The Bayonne Police Department recently held a swearing-in ceremony at Bayonne High School for officers who joined the force in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
City Clerk Madelene Medina officiated on June 15. The new recruits replenished the ranks, depleted by recent retirements.
City Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski congratulated the first Black women on the force: Officers Tanya Roberts and Brianna Rhodes.
Members of activist group Black in Bayonne were present at the ceremony and applauded the ascension of Roberts and Rhodes. Black in Bayonne and the Bayonne branch of the NAACP have been meeting with the city to work toward more diversity in the police department and to address other issues.
“For the first time in history, the Bayonne Police Department welcomes two female African-American officers to the force!,” the Black in Bayonne cofounders said in a statement. “Remember, because of you, other little black girls can join the BPD force now.”
‘Standing tall’
Addressing all the recruits, Ashe-Nadrowski said, “Bayonne will be better and safer because of you.”
They “have joined the ranks of one of the greatest police departments in the United States,” said Mayor James Davis. During the past year, he said, the department “stood tall” and “made each of us proud.”
Public Safety Director Robert Kubert said, “Police work in general is a very tough job today. It is a testament that they’re still here.”
Police Chief Robert Geisler thanked Mayor Davis, the city council, and Director Kubert for the “planning and forethought” that went into adding the new officers. Geisler called being a police officer “the best job in the world,” which provides “a front row seat to life.”
The program included an invocation by Father John Fencik, a benediction by Rev. Dorothy Patterson, and musical selections by the Bayonne Police Pipes and Drums.
Roster of recruits
The new recruits, which include the department’s first Filipino officer, are Shady Nasralla, Michael May, Bryan Cruz, Hany Kased, Robert Candelaria, Thomas Jurcisin, Jr., Alexis Ogbin, Jonathan White, Zachary Hyman, Marco Coelho, Kevin Sliwowski, Mark Hermosisima, Brandon Olander, Robert Cavanaugh, Jared Ensmenger, Jack Vreeland, Mina Saleeb, Ali Aboubakr, Perla Estevez, Erik Lyman, Febronia Botros, Joseph Cordato, Kevin Vazquez, Justin Rivera, Thomas McGuckin, Tanya Roberts, Brianna Rhodes, and Daniel Hampton.
