EDISON — With the recent promotion in the fire department and the hiring of nine police officers, Edison officials are making public safety a priority.
Andrew Toth, Jr. was promoted from captain to deputy chief of the Edison Fire Department on Nov. 19. Earlier in the month, nine police officers were sworn in at ceremonies at Town Hall in front of a crowd of state, county and town officials, family and friends.
Fire Chief Brian Latham and Police Chief Thomas Bryan said promotions and hirings do not happen without the support of Mayor Thomas Lankey, his administration and the Township Council.
In addition to new command duties, Toth will continue to serve as Edison’s emergency management coordinator (OEM), a position he held after he was promoted to fire captain in 2015.
“Public safety is a priority we have,” Lankey said, adding officials are working on developing a promotions and hiring list. “We are dedicated and promise we are going to keep the ranks of police and fire at a safe level to make sure our residents do have the safety and security they deserve in this community.”
The deputy fire chief’s slot has been vacant for several years. Toth was hired as a paid fireman in 2003 after he served as a volunteer for several years.
Fire Chief Brian Latham said it has been a long time since the fire division has had dual leadership.
“It’ll actually take a lot of work off me,” he said. “As the fifth largest fire department in the state with only one administrative officer, you can imagine how much work that is, but I think we persevered throughout it all with the hard work and dedication from our administration and our firefighters.”
Latham said cooperation among the fire and police divisions is a plus in situations such as the snowstorm on Nov. 22.
“We had plows stuck in traffic and the fire department assisted in using its warning lights and vehicles to get the snow plows through the traffic and get the roads cleared,” he said. “It was a great effort by the fire department and cooperation we have with our police department.”
Toth thanked the support of Lankey, his administration and the Township Council for the much needed equipment and fleet for the fire department. He also thanked his fellow firefighters for their support and knowledge.
“The fleet and equipment are the things we need as a department to continue to protect our township in the safest and most efficient way possible,” he said. “I am looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish as I take my new role.”
During the ceremony, Toth told the crowd about two tragic events that led him to public service — his Uncle Kevin, an officer with the Middlesex County College Police Department, was killed in an accident when he was nine years old, and a car accident killed his best friend. He also said his late father instilled strong family values that he continues to instill.
Bryan wished Toth success in his new role and added Toth, as a firefighter and OEM coordinator, always goes above and beyond to get the job done.
Lankey, during the police ceremony, said when he came into office in 2014, the police ranks were in the 150s.
“With this class we are up to just about 180 [officers],” he said. “Our goal is right around that mid-180 range. We need to make sure we have the people on the roads in the communities. We’re committed to continually hire and get to the numbers that we believe will keep our community safe.”
Since Lankey came into office, some 59 police officers have been hired for the department.
“Every now and then you hear something negative, but trust me I hear from the community, I get emails on a daily basis and [the community] attests to the job that our men and women in blue are doing and I am very, very proud to be associated with them,” he said.
Lankey said the township has two hiring processes — a certified class of officers hired with experience, or a class of officers who take an exam and get extra points if they are Edison residents and a member of the department’s police auxiliary.
“Being a police officer is not just a job, it is a career and certainly a wild adventure,” Bryan said. “Our great department has had its challenges throughout the years; however, we are resilient, we always persevere, we learn and become better at what we do and for that we are immensely proud.”
Bryan said a career in law enforcement is like no other.
“Where else do you get to perform as a doctor, a lawyer, psychologist, marriage counselor, babysitter, mediator, and yes, sometimes a worrier?” he asked.
Bryan mentioned the active shooting incident in Thousand Oaks, California, where a gunman fatally shot 12 people including Police Sgt. Ron Helus, who responded to the the scene at Borderline Bar and Grill, on Nov. 7.
“The first police officer to arrive was a 29-year veteran, Sgt. Ron Helus, who was slated to retire in just a few days,” he said. “Sgt. Helus ran towards danger in an effort to save lives, as he entered the gunman shot him several times. Sgt. Helus died a hero, but this is what we do. Ninety-five percent of our job is responding to quality of life issues; however, situations like this can happen at anytime, anywhere. Unfortunately this is the world we live in today and only the police are the thin blue line between chaos and law and order.”
Bryan said the only type of police officer the new officers are destined to become is the type of police officer they ultimately decide to be on and off duty.
The chief told the new officers to never sacrifice their integrity.
“Think about what you do before you take action and how it will impact both yourselves and those around you,” he said. “Never lose sight of what you are sworn to do and that is to protect and serve, not to be protected and be served. Each of you as law enforcement officers are what this world will always need. You are the guardians of the public.”
The nine new officers include Antonio Coppola, formerly of the Middlesex County College Police Department; Christopher DiPalo, formerly of the Watchung Police Department; Michael Geist, formerly of the Rutgers University Police Department; Jovanni Innocent, formerly of the Rutgers University Police Department; Kevin Kirsh, formerly of the Hillsborough Police Department; John Kurdes, formerly of the Lakehurst Police Department; Richard Lorfing, formerly of the Metuchen Police Department; Stephen Nappe, who was an alternative route candidate with Essex County; and Christian Paone, formerly of the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department.
Bryan noted Kirsh is the son of retired Edison Police Lt. Lou Kirsh, who he worked with for a long time.
“I wanted to say it gives me great satisfaction and gratitude that his son is following in his footsteps to be a police officer in Edison,” he said before Kirsh was sworn in.
Contact Kathy Chang at kchang@newspapermediagroup.com.
