Bernards Township Police Officers Promoted

Basking Ridge, NJ -- Last night was full of promotions.

Bernards Township Police Officers Kevin Little was promoted to Sergeant and is assigned to the Patrol Division, Scott Ward was promoted to Lieutenant and Alex McKnight was named designated Shift Commander.

The officers were sworn in at the township's committee meeting Tuesday night by Police Chief Brian Bobowicz and Somerset County Acting Prosecutor Michael Robertson, who is also a Ridge native.

Ward was hired on June 10, 1996 as a patrol officer and field training officer. In 2012 he was promoted to Detective Sgt. and has also been a member of the Somerset County CERT team and negotiator since 2009, Bobowicz said at the meeting.

Ward also is a U.S. Army veteran, who served in Desert Storm.

Ward is being promoted to Lieutenant to replace the retiring Ted Reese.

Effective April 1, Ward will receive an annualized base salary of $134,907.

Little was hired on June 17, 1996 as a patrol officer. In 2007, he became the senior shift commander and in 2011he was selected to be a member of the prosecutor officer's collision analysis investigation team, Bobowicz said.

Little will fill Ward's position as Sergeant and is assigned to the Patrol Division.

Effective April 1, Little will receive an annualized base salary of $116,589.

Alex McKnight was not officially promoted but appointed as Designated Shift Commander. He was selected to succeed Little.

McKnight will serve as second in charge under Sergeant. He was hired on June 16, 2003. Prior to working at Bernards Township he served on the Montgomery Township Police Department for two years.

"I would like thank the Township Committee and Town Hall Administration of Township Administrator Bruce McArthur and CFO/HR Manager Terri Johnson for their support of these Police Department promotions which helps us to maintain our high level of efficiency and customer service as well as their overall historical positive and supportive view of the Police Department," Bobowicz told Patch.

(Photo provided: Pictured from left - Lt. Scott Ward and Sgt. Kevin Little.)