Woodbridge swears in five new police officers; mayor honors life-saving response

Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormick swore in five new police officers and recognized officers and EMS personnel for a life-saving response during the council meeting. The newly sworn officers introduced by the mayor included Alexander Totten, Michael Tornatore, Matthew Dzczak, Abigail Vendrell and Mason Scrano, each given a brief background of residency, education and prior experience.

The mayor described the event as both a swearing-in and an opportunity to honor first responders. "Once again, somebody's alive today because of the actions of Woodbridge Township police, 1st aid, fire," McCormick said while reading a proclamation that commended Sergeant Perry Pena, Officers Julian Valentin and Matthew Murdock, and EMS providers Anthony Mazza and Karina Suarez Bosque for performing CPR and stabilizing an 80-year-old resident found unconscious amid extreme hoarding conditions.

Captain Murphy thanked the mayor and council for supporting the department and praised the officers. "I'm in awe every day, and these guys that I get to work with, they make us all look good," Murphy said, congratulating the officers recently sworn in.

Why it matters: The ceremony both expanded the township's police ranks and publicly acknowledged interagency life-saving coordination, signaling an emphasis on emergency response capability and community safety. The proclamation recounts that responders forced entry, performed CPR and coordinated transfer to EMS amid hazardous conditions.

The meeting continued with routine business after the recognitions; the council then took up several ordinances and a consent slate of resolutions later in the agenda.