Wayne Adds Retired Cops To Serve As Class III Officers

WAYNE, NJ – Two additional Class III officers are now stationed in schools throughout the Wayne School District.

The school board approved the appointment of Brent Cannon and John Costabile at its Jan. 23 meeting to serve at the district’s nine elementary schools “on a rotating basis” beginning this month at a rate of $35 per hour.

Superintendent Mark Toback said the district “is thrilled” that the two officers – both retired from Wayne Police Department – are joining the district. He added that the officers each have “a long and distinguished record of service to this community.”

The superintendent added, "The addition of Class III officers at each of our middle schools is widely recognized as a great boost to our safety and security initiatives. We look forward to seeing a similar benefit at each of our elementary schools.”

School resource officers have worked at Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley high schools since 2002. The middle schools also had school resource officers, but after the district slashed its budget in 2010 due to a state aid loss, the positions were lost.

Two years ago, the district brought the posts back to the middle schools, bringing on three retired Wayne cops.