NORTH BERGEN – Detective Cynthia Montero and Investigator Michael Vitali were both promoted to the rank of sergeant on May 20 in a ceremony at North Bergen Town Hall. Montero is the first Latina to hold this position in North Bergen history.
Chief of Police Robert Dowd spoke at the swearing-in ceremony, calling Vitali “an integral part of our detective bureau and someone who is relied upon by his peers as a leader.”
Montero will continue in her role as investigator in the Internal Affairs division. “It’s a very difficult position because honestly and transparency and guarding against misconduct and corruption is a very difficult job,” said Dowd. “Especially when you’re there to police your peers. And it’s a job that she does not only well but she does with a high level of professionalism.”
The rank of sergeant is considered a supervisory position. North Bergen has a young police force, according to Dowd, due to a lot of retirements and the hiring of over 30 new officers in the last two years. Currently there are 13 women and 58 Latino officers in the department.
Mayor Nicholas Sacco and Public Safety Commissioner Theresa Ferraro conducted the swearing-in ceremony, which was attended by other police and officials as well as friends and family of the two officers. –Art Schwartz
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