Hired During COVID, Rumson Police Honored At Special Meeting

RUMSON, NJ — Among the many impacts of the COVID health emergency was the necessity for virtual meetings of government bodies, such as the Rumson Borough Council.

And since council meetings are the traditional venue to celebrate promotions and other events in borough life, the Borough Council made up for lost time with a special meeting to formally honor new officers hired and officers promoted during the COVID emergency.

“In the past, when we hired a new police officer, we would require them to come to a council meeting, similar to this one, so they could be recognized for the role they will play in our community over the next 25 or 30 years, as a member of the Rumson Police Department,” Mayor Joseph K. Hemphill said at the March 28 meeting.

“In addition to attendance by the Borough Councilmembers you see before you, as well as past or present officers of the Rumson Police Department, this was a time for a new officer’s family to join in and witness them being recognized for the extraordinarily important role they will now play for the residents and guests of the Borough of Rumson,” the mayor added.

Hemphill began the meeting’s only scheduled order of business by inviting Rumson Police Department Capt. Jeffrey Nixon to join him at the podium where they recognized police promotions and new hires.

Rumson Police Department officers, members of the Rumson EMS and Rumson Fire Departments, Rumson school district officials, and friends and families were in attendance at the long-overdue ceremony.

Hemphill recognized the Special Class III officers of the Rumson Police Department:

• Dawn Shields
• Anthony Ciambrone
• Michael Lahey
• Kevin Lovgren

As members of the force, Special Class III officers spend their active time in the borough’s public schools.

Then, the council recognized Rumson Police Department patrolmen who were hired during the pandemic. Hemphill administered the oaths of office to:

• Joseph Strohmenger
• Troy Malone
• Brooke Costa
• James Camilleri
• Timothy Lackner

The ceremony concluded with the swearing in of the Rumson police officers promoted to command positions during the global health emergency.

“Similar to new hires, we have always recognized promotions within the Rumson Police Department,” Hemphill said “Since 2020, we have certainly had a few. The senior officers we will recognize today have be promoted to the ranks of captain, lieutenant and sergeant.”

Oaths of office were than administered to:

• Christopher J. York, as captain
• Robert Boyer, as lieutenant
• Daniel Campanella, as sergeant
• Bryan Dougherty, as sergeant
• Richard Torres, as sergeant

Nixon thanked the men and women of the Rumson Police Department for their service. The efforts of volunteer EMS and Fire Department forces of the borough and the support of the families of the Rumson Police Department officers were also recognized by the council members.