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Englewood swears in new police officers and promotes a sergeant amid staffing praise
Summary
Englewood officials held a July 13 swearing-in ceremony that included a promotion to sergeant and oath-taking for four new officers; the mayor and police chief emphasized staffing, training and community service. The meeting opened with a moment of silence for a late public-works employee.
Englewood officials on July 13 promoted a detective to sergeant and administered oaths to four new police officers in a ceremonial segment of the city council meeting.
Chief Greeley introduced the promotion, saying the newly promoted sergeant has been “a staple in our detective bureau for over 10 years” and played key roles in major investigations. The chief told the council the officer had been relied on for high-risk interviews and leadership in the bureau and called the promotion “a huge milestone.”
The officer was identified during the meeting with the given name Christopher; the transcript alternately records the surname as “Quirk” and “Court.” The officer was described in on-record remarks as badge number 213, a College of New Jersey graduate with a master’s degree from Rutgers and prior service with the New York City Police Department. The presiding official administered the oath and attendees congratulated the sergeant.
Mayor Michael Wildes praised the department’s staffing and leadership, thanking managers and the governing body for maintaining full ranks. He also asked the room to pause in memory of recently deceased shield number 228, calling him “part of the Englewood family.”
The meeting next included biographical readings and oaths for four newly hired officers. Jonathan Forrest was introduced as a Hollywood, Florida, native and Army National Guard member; he was assigned temporary badge number 283 while attending the Bergen County Police Academy. Joseph Leto’s biography noted his service in the U.S. Marine Corps and that he earned the rank of sergeant; he received temporary badge number 284. Ethan Shoemaker’s bio referenced National Guard service and a 2024 combat deployment to Iraq and assigned him temporary badge number 285. Robert (Robbie) Tormone’s bio cited his New Milford roots and an NJIT degree and assigned temporary badge number 286. Each new officer completed the oath of office before the council recessed for five minutes.
Chief Greeley described the hiring process that produced the four new officers as highly competitive: the group began with roughly 166 candidates, more than 80 failed the written exam, over 30 were eliminated at the physical assessment and about 50 advanced to interview stages. He framed the city’s investment in the officers as a long-term, multidecade, multimillion-dollar commitment.
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence for Ernesto Ramos (Ernie Ramos Jr.), a Department of Public Works employee whose unexpected passing was announced by the council president. The City Clerk read the Open Public Meetings Act notice confirming the meeting had been properly posted and noticed.
No votes or formal legislative actions were recorded during the ceremonial portion of the meeting. The council recessed for five minutes at the close of the swearing-in segment.
