FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Eight men have been hired by municipal officials to serve the community as members of the Freehold Township Police Department.
The eight officers were sworn in during the July 25 meeting of the Township Committee. The oath of office was administered to John Araneda, Jonathan Baumann, Brandon Borriello, Joseph Crono Jr., Kevin Cross, Sean Foley, Michael Terranova III and Michael Ventriglio.
Each officer will receive a starting salary of $42,000 per year, according to township officials.
There are currently 68 officers in the police department, pending completion of the new officers’ academy training. The new hires will replace officers who are retiring. The police department had 60 officers prior to the hiring of the new recruits.
Municipal officials said the police department saw an increase in personnel about 20 years ago and has had between 65 and 68 officers serving the municipality in the years that have followed.
The retirement of a significant number of veteran police officers has been ongoing since 2014. Officials have said the retirement of veteran personnel is expected to continue through 2017.
Freehold Township’s 2017 municipal budget listed 67 police officers employed by the township. Personnel costs of the officers accounted for $11.7 million of the $39.5 million budget.
