Roseland swears in three officers, promotes two sergeants; council highlights mental-health supports

Roseland officials swore in three new police officers and promoted two sergeants during the April 15 governing-body meeting, then paused for community presentations including a mental-health proclamation.

Sergeant Carnival and Sergeant Martin Gutierrez were promoted and took their oaths in a ceremonial portion of the meeting. The council also swore in three new officers; Mayor Spango addressed the officers and their families, urging them to "rely on [family] heavily" and to "always go home safe to your families." A council member credited Detective Sergeant Haidider with leading recruitment and selection; the clerk and police leadership congratulated the officers by name.

Earlier in the agenda, volunteer leader Sheree Castellano described a local nonprofit, Volunteer, which offers free mental-health peer support after raising community donations following a house fire. "We started Volunteer this nonprofit group to offer free mental health services where people can get, give and grow peer support," Castellano told the governing body. The council approved a proclamation recognizing May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month and said Pearl Hall will be lit green in observance. Lauren Tabai, a board-certified, licensed professional counselor and Roseland resident, urged the gesture as a way to build connection and awareness.

Officials said the nonprofit has worked with local law enforcement and schools and that the mayor and council appreciate its community support. The presentations preceded a longer State of the Borough address by the mayor and the rest of the agenda.