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Hawthorne Police earn reaccreditation; two officers sworn as permanent members
Summary
At the April 2 meeting the council and mayor marked the Hawthorne Police Department’s reaccreditation under the New Jersey accreditation program and the council approved the permanent appointment and swearing-in of Officers Ruth Pena and Jose Zuna.
The Hawthorne Police Department received formal recognition for reaccreditation under the New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, Mayor Lane said at the April 2 meeting.
An accreditation representative told the council the department had achieved reaccredited status — joining fewer than 32% of New Jersey law enforcement agencies with that status — and praised the department’s community engagement, fleet upgrades, manpower increases and communications improvements. The presentation noted the program is administered by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police and the New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission and is intended to verify adherence to statewide best practices.
Mayor Lane and the council congratulated Chief James Knepper and accreditation manager Lieutenant Matthew Houghmet (name pronounced in the meeting) and presented a certificate to the department.
Later in the meeting the council recorded motions to make Officers Ruth Pena and Jose Zuna permanent members of the Hawthorne Police Department. The clerk administered the oath of office to both officers. The motion to record the appointments was moved (Bennett) and seconded (Leosah); roll-call votes on each appointment carried unanimously.
Council and staff also noted an upcoming Police Department second-floor renovation design kickoff and thanked officers for their work during the reaccreditation process.
