By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD – Two police officers who provided decades of service to Freehold Borough have been honored by the Borough Council.
At a meeting on July 18, council members passed a resolution honoring Detective Sgt. Andrew DeMuth and Detective Lt. Michael Sweetman upon their retirement from the Freehold Borough Police Department. Both officers served the borough for more than two decades.
According to the resolution, DeMuth was hired as a patrolman in 1990. He was promoted to sergeant in 1998 and to detective sergeant in 2013. During his career in the police department, he served as the firearms instructor, public information officer, field training officer and president of the PBA.
DeMuth co-founded and developed the Youth Police Academy in 2008, which he led for seven years, according to the resolution. He was awarded the Combat Cross in 1995 for helping to apprehend an armed subject after exchanging gunfire with the individual.
Sweetman joined the police department as a dispatcher in 1993 and became a patrolman in 1994, according to the resolution. He was promoted to sergeant in 2007 and to detective lieutenant in 2012.
During his career in the police department, Sweetman served as the public information officer, field training officer, Detective Bureau supervisor and on the joint investigation team with the Freehold Township Police Department.
According to the resolution, Sweetman successfully instituted the police department’s first K-9 unit in 2001. He was one of the first members of the department’s bicycle patrol unit and he received accreditation manager certification, which helped the department receive accreditation in March.
DeMuth retired from the police department in May 2015 and Sweetman retired in February.
“We are very appreciative of the service of Detective Sgt. Demuth and Detective Lt. Sweetman,” Mayor Nolan Higgins said. “They were outstanding members of our department. Their dedication to our residents and this community will be missed. I wish them both all the best as they move on to new chapters in their lives. They have the recognition and thanks of the entire governing body.”
Freehold Borough Police Chief Glenn Roberts said, “Both officers served their town with pride and dedication. Over the years, I can remember these two officers were the type of people who really cared about the citizens and the well being of everyone. They always went the extra mile in terms of service and assistance. They were key personnel in the police department and they are missed personally and professionally.”
In other business at the July 18 meeting, the council passed a resolution accepting the 2015 audit report, which was prepared by the accounting firm Suplee, Clooney and Company.
Business Administrator Joseph Bellina said the firm had no comments indicating there are any issues with the borough’s finances and he said because of those positive findings there is no need for any corrective action.
The council passed resolutions authorizing the purchase of an all-terrain litter vacuum at a maximum cost of $36,752, a utility equipment trailer at a maximum cost of $20,065, two traffic attenuators at a maximum cost of $39,688 and a pick-up truck at a maximum cost of $38,141.
Council members passed resolutions approving net decreases to contracts that had been awarded for the repaving of Marcy Street and Murray Street. The contract for the repaving of Marcy Street was revised from $224,702 to $215,740, a net decrease of $8,962. The contract for the repaving of Murray Street was revised from $276,513 to $256,394, a net decrease of $20,119.
