By Mark Rosman
Staff Writer
MANALAPAN — Four officers in the Manalapan Police Department will move up in rank at the beginning of July.
The officers’ promotions were approved in a 5-0 vote of the Township Committee during a meeting on June 15.
On July 1, Lt. Edward Niesz will be promoted to the rank of captain and Detective Sgt. Leonard Maltese will be promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
On July 5, Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II Patrolman Peter Bylsma and Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II Patrolman Douglas Zike will be hired as full-time patrol officers.
“The members of the Manalapan Police Department are grateful to the Township Committee and township administration for their continued support in maintaining the staffing integrity of the police department,” Capt. Thomas Barstow said. “Their commitment to this organization and to the community enables us to provide the best services and security to the citizens of Manalapan.”
Niesz joined the police department in 1996 after working as a railroad police officer beginning in 1994. He has held various positions in the department, including detective, patrol sergeant, accreditation manager and day shift watch commander.
Niesz recently completed work on his master’s degree in public administration at Fairleigh Dickinson University and will be assigned as the Administrative Division Commander, according to Barstow.
Maltese joined the police department in 2003 and graduated from the Monmouth County Police Academy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Monmouth University and a master’s degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Maltese has held various positions in the department, including Patrol Division, detective and patrol sergeant. He is currently the detective sergeant in charge of the Investigations Bureau. Maltese serves on the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team as a negotiator. As a lieutenant, he will be assigned as a Patrol Division watch commander, according to Barstow.
Bylsma joined the police department in March 2015 as a Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II. He holds a bachelor’s degree in law and society from Ramapo College.
Bylsma graduated from the Monmouth County Police Academy while previously working for the Belmar Police Department as a Class I Special Officer in 2013 and a Class II Special Officer in 2014. Bylsma will be assigned to the Patrol Division in the Field Training Program, according to Barstow.
Zike joined the police department in March 2015 as a Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II. He holds an associate’s degree from Ocean County College in criminal justice.
Zike previously worked for the Seaside Park Police Department as a Special Law Enforcement Officer Class I in the summer of 2013, and as a Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II after graduating from the Ocean County Police Academy in May 2014. Zike will be assigned to the Patrol Division in the Field Training Program, according to Barstow.
