Crime & Safety
Collingswood Police Add Three New Officers at Borough Meeting
"We're finally catching up to the retirements," Collingswood Mayor James Maley said of the moves that will bring the department back up to strength.
The Collingswood police department swore in three new hires at the Monday meeting of the borough commissioners.
Kristina L. Bowen was appointed a probationary full-time officer; Alexander Peed and Jeremy Anderson were both named special officers Class II.
They were sworn in by family members before a packed house at the community center. Anderson's father, who held the Bible for his son from his wheelchair, reminded Collingswood Mayor James Maley that he was a 20-year police veteran himself.
At the October meeting of the borough commissioners, 25-year veteran Guy DeRitis was promoted from Det. Sgt. to Lieutenant, and Patrolmen Kevin Carey and Steven Rydzewski, who also serves on the Collingswood Board of Education, both moved up to Sergeant.
The moves bring the department back up to full or nearly full staffing, Maley said.
In January, the borough and the police department settled on a new, three-year contract; then in May, Collingswood swore in two new officers, Kenneth Jacoby and Samuel Rocco.
"[We're] just happy to do it," the mayor said.
"We're pretty much back to strength before the economy hit. We're finally catching up to the retirements."
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