WEST DEPTFORD TWP. — Four new full-time police officers were sworn in Feb. 18 during a West Deptford Township Committee meeting.
Eighty-six people applied for the positions and took a written test in December, police said. The top 35 went on to be interviewed by six sergeants and three administrators.That number was reduced to 10,who had second interviews. The officers sworn in were the top four from that round of interviews, said police.
The hiring of the new officers makes the West Deptford police department compliant with a township ordinance that requires it to have 41 full-time officers.
The new officers are Robert Niszczak, John Richardson, William Reichert and Paul Manfre.
Niszczak, a Sewell resident, formerly worked at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia.
Richardson, of Williamstown, served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Reichert, of West Deptford, was working as a Special Law Enforcement Officer II in Paulsboro.
Manfre, who grew up in National Park, was working with Keypoint Government Solutions and held a Department of Defense Top Secret clearance.
Niszczak, Richardson and Manfre will begin training at the Gloucester County Police Academy on March 2. Reichert was already trained and will begin work on Feb. 23.
All four men were replacements for officers who have retired. The last time the department had 41 officers was December 2011.