North Bergen welcomed four new police officers.
Mayor Nicholas Sacco, Police Chief Peter Fasilis and Public Safety Commissioner Allen Pascual presided over a swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, July 12. During the ceremony, four new Class II Special Recruits (SLEO II) were sworn into the Bergen North Police Department.
Nicholas Manocchio was born in North Bergen and graduated on the Dean’s List from St. Thomas Aquinas College with a Masters of Commerce. He was varsity co-captain of his football team at Ridgefield High School and is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Javier Garcia-Riancho was born in Cuba and is currently completing his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He joined the Army and served two combat deployments.
Gabrielle Rich comes from a family of military and law enforcement officers and holds a master’s degree in criminal investigations. She currently works for the NBPD as a communications operator and will become the department’s 21st female law enforcement officer.
Joshua Rivas is a permanent resident of North Bergen and an NBHS graduate. He currently works as a security guard at Palisades Medical Center. He attended Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida, where his uncle is a police officer.
Also in attendance were many proud family members and representatives of the township administration and police department. Pastor Steven Germoso performed the invocation and blessing.
For updates on this story and others, visit www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.
