Guttenberg’s newest policewoman is Laura Sorto of North Bergen, who tells us that she is very proud to join the ranks in the town police department! Born in Honduras in Central America, Ms. Sorto came to the United States at five years old to North Bergen. Afterward, she moved to Guttenberg, then to West New York, and is now back in North Bergen. Her lovely mother Paula Rivera, who is also from Honduras, currently lives in West New York, and her father Elmer, is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and still lives there. Ms. Sorto has two brothers, Rene who lives in the State of Virginia, and Fernando who lives in Honduras. She also has a sister Donna who lives in West New York. Ms. Sorto attended the Robert Fulton School in North Bergen and the Anna L. Klein School in Guttenberg, before graduating from Memorial High School in West New York.
Wanting to be a member of a local police department since her youth, Ms. Sorto, after high school graduation, enrolled in the Essex County College Police Academy in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, for training as a special police officer, while also earning 23 credits toward further college education after hopefully becoming a full-police officer, and then to take up behavioral science/criminal justice course-work toward a degree; hopefully at New Jersey City University in Jersey City, in the future!
As a Special Policewoman, Ms. Sorto tells us that the duties are basically the same as a full-time police officer, except that a special police officer works part-time hours, but there are other differences. Ms. Sorto tells us that at the police academy she was selected as the executive officer of her class and reported to the commanding officer of the class, as she was second in command! Ms. Sorto is in the medical field too, and works as a chiropractic secretary-assistant for a regional chiropractor for the past year. Ms. Sorto has been inspired by her mother since she was 16-years old to take an interest in the fashion industry, and sometime in the future, as an avocation, she may open-up a local boutique specializing in female accessories and designer sunglasses. However, her first love is and will always be police-work, and she aspires to be the department’s first female police investigator.
Ms. Sorto tells us that she is not the only special-policewoman within the Guttenberg police department, as she works along-side Special-Policewoman Shaundell Barker, who also is a graduate of the Essex County College Police Academy, at a different time, and who lives in Essex County. Ms. Sorto tells us that she enjoys having Ms. Barker as a police colleague! Captain Joel Magenheimer of the Guttenberg Police Department tells us that the two special-policewomen, who were hired in the recent past by Guttenberg Mayor Gerald Drasheff and the Town Council, are both great police officers, and are both a credit to his department, and were needed in their capacity, Meganheimer says in a professional-fatherly fashion!
Police Director Michael Caliguiro of the Guttenberg police department who resides in West New York, tells us that there was a need for two special-police officers and that both Officers Sorto and Barker professionally are fitting-in just fine, and doing good jobs as officers. Sergeant Juan Barrera of the department, who also resides in West New York, tells us that he has worked on assignments with both officers, and has found them to be motivated and competent. Moreover, Police Director Caliguiro advised, when asked the difference between a special and full-time police officer, that a special officer gets basically special training for the job, and when that special officer goes on to become a full-time officer, that person goes back for further training regarding the position’s full-time status, per se, before the person’s appointment to the position in traditional fashion.
As for Special-Police Officer Sorto, when asked what she does in her leisure time, she says that she likes to play tennis, volleyball, and runs track. She also likes Pop and Rock music, as well as Techno music. She also practices Brazilian Jujitsu, which she learned at the police academy, and likes to travel when possible to places like the Bahamas, Cancun, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Brazil, and cross-country U.S.A. Ms. Sorto definitely likes to spend quality-time with family, and as a hobby, she rides a Kawasaki Ninja Motorcycle. In her private life, her heroes are her parents, and she also likes viewing comedy and action movies! Ms. Sorto also has a culinary side to her nature, as she likes to go to different restaurants to experience the different cultural tastes in foods, and cultural settings. A well-rounded personality for a special-police officer and a special lady. Laura Sorto, all the best!!!…
Secaucus resident Justin Jinorio we hear, has been recently studying abroad through the Boston University International Programs Office in Massachusetts, and has been enrolled in the London Internship Program Hospitality and Tourism, in Merry Olde England. Congratulations! …
Marine Corps Reserve Private First Class Caleb T. Yuhas, son of Kevin Yuhas of Weehawken, recently completed the Mojave Viper exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, at Twentynine Palms, California. Best wishes! …
Recently sighted! Patrick Musto of Union City, the son of legendary deceased Mayor and State Senator William V. Musto, and his wife Rhyta, who is also a former elected commissioner. Patrick was on his way to a volleyball game, and was happy to see this columnist. Ditto.
Former Union City Mayor and State Assemblyman Rudy Garcia, who was buying coffee at the Weehawken Lincoln Tunnel Exxon Station and Tiger Mart/Coffee Shop, greeted this columnist to speak about old times on the civics scene. Yes, former Mayor Garcia tells us that he is still the adopted son of William “Bill” Gaughan, Jersey City councilman and chief-of-staff to Hudson County Executive Thomas DeGise, also of Jersey City. Always glad to see old friends, and learn that they are doing well with themselves. Always a pleasure!!!…
And so it goes… until next time…see you around town…MATT…
*(Readers who would like to contribute to this column can do so by mailing your news items and photographs, along with your name, address, and telephone number to: “Matthew Amato,” columnist, c/o The Hudson Reporter, 1400 Washington St, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030. Thank you!)