JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ-On Monday March 4, 2019, Chief of Police Matthew Kunz introduced the newest additions to the Jackson Police Department as they were sworn in by Township Clerk Janice Kisty.
Brittany LaFalce, Nicholas Kokich and Andrew Brodzinski were sworn in as the newest full time sworn officers to join the agency.
Brittany LaFalce, age 23, graduated from Jackson Liberty High School and received a degree in criminal justice from Stockton University. She was previously employed by Macy’s as a loss prevention officer.
Nicholas Kokich, age 28, graduated from Jackson Liberty High School and received a degree in business administration from Nichols College. He was previously employed as a purchasing specialist with New Jersey Transit.
Andrew Brodzinski, age 29, graduated from Jackson Memorial High School and received a degree in criminal justice from Ocean County College. He was previously employed as a senior corrections officer with the New Jersey Department of Corrections.
The three new officers will be attending in service training with the agency prior to the start of the Ocean County Police Academy later this month. Upon successful completion of the approximately 23 week long academy, they will be assigned to a Field Training Officer for agency training for approximately 4 months before being assigned to a patrol squad.
Also sworn in as Class 2 Special Police Officers were Lauren Hornfeck and Matthew Cilento.
Lauren Hornfeck, age 28, graduated from Keystone National High School in Bloomsburg, PA and is attending Strayer University for criminal justice. She has graduated from the Middlesex County Auxiliary Police Academy and the Ocean County Police Academy with a Class 2 certification. She was previously employed as a Class 2 Special Police Officer with the Ocean Gate Police Department and as a part time Telecommunications Officer with the Jackson Police Department.
Matthew Cilento, age 24, graduated from Jackson Liberty High School and is currently active in the United States Army Reserve. He graduated from the Ocean County Police Academy with a Class 2 certification and was previously employed as a Class 2 Special Police Officer with the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department.
The Class 2 Officers will be attending in service agency training and will then be assigned to a Field Training Officer for several months. Their primary responsibilities are court room security, traffic assignments and road patrol.
With the addition of these newest officers, including 2 officers scheduled to graduate from the current police academy this week, it brings the agency staffing to 94 full time sworn officers to serve the 100 square mile township and its growing population.