Longtime Belleville Police Officer Retires: Capt. Victor Mesce

BELLEVILLE, NJ — A quick quiz for Belleville police boosters… what recently retired local cop has served on the force for more than 35 years, commanded the SWAT force, served as deputy OEM coordinator and volunteered for disaster relief after the 9/11 attacks?

Captain Victor Mesce of the Belleville Police Department recently retired from the force, earning well-deserved praise from colleagues and the public after more than three decades of local law enforcement.

Mesce, a Newark native who earned the 2016 "Lifetime Achievement Award" for the 34th Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day, began serving as a Belleville police officer in 1980. Here are some of his career highlights:

• Served as commander of the BPD Emergency Services/SWAT teams, as well as Belleville Township Deputy OEM coordinator & homeland security director
• Primary liaison and advisor to all Belleville Public Schools on school security and safety
• Served as commander of the Essex County Rapid Deployment Team
• Actively involved in sponsoring key clubs in Belleville and Nutley High Schools as well as a Picnic for The CP Center in Belleville and food baskets for the poor to celebrate Thanksgiving
• In January of 2005, along with other officers from the Belleville ESU, was part of the security detail during the Presidential Inauguration of George W. Bush
• Served as an instructor at the Essex County Police Academy
• Spearheaded the purchase of bullet-proof vests for officers with the help of the Belleville- Nutley Kiwanis Club

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Photo: Belleville Police Department