New Oradell Police Chief David Gangemi talks local roots and 26 years of service

Pat Schubert, the borough historian and host of "Oradell Today," introduced newly sworn Police Chief David Gangemi and asked him about his background and path into law enforcement.

Gangemi said he "grew up here" in Oradell, attended Riverdale schools and St. Peter's College in Jersey City, where he graduated with a business administration degree. He described early work outside policing — "I worked for an electrician for a few years" — and said he then started researching emergency services jobs, noting the stiff competition in Bergen County at the time: "I would show up to take a test, for instance, in Mahwah, and it'd be 300 applicants for 1 spot."

He recounted being hired in New York City in 1998 and receiving a call from Chief Brennan shortly before he was to attend the New York City Police Academy; that call led him to fill out paperwork and enter the Oradell academy in January 1999. "So I've I've been here 26 years," Gangemi said, describing a long tenure with the department.

Asked what attracted him to police work, Gangemi credited the Oradell Volunteer Fire Department and his family's service: "My father was a fireman there and fire chief, and my brother was a fireman ... who's still a member there. And I joined following their footsteps." He said his experience in the fire service "really got me interested in public service," which led to a career in law enforcement.

Gangemi said he would not change his career choice and emphasized the satisfaction of helping people in urgent situations. The interview focused on background and motivation; no departmental policies, staffing plans, or budget items were discussed on the recording.