Chatham Borough Police Patrolmen Promoted

Three patrolmen, Daryle Kelly, Jayson Cittrich and Richard "Rick" Jaremba, were promoted to the rank of sergeant at Monday's council meeting.

"It is indeed a pleasure when we get the opportunity to recognize the service that people have provided," Council Member James Collander said.

Police Chief Philip Crosson was supposed to give the introductions for the three officers, but he is recovering from shoulder surgery. Lt. Brian Gibbons handled the majority of the speaking duties. Municipal Clerk Susan Caljean swore in the three patrolmen to their new rank.

"Chief Crosson and I have worked with Officers Kelly, Cittrich and Jaremba, and we are confident they possess the fundamental skills necessary to deal with the rigors of police management," Gibbons said. "They have all exhibited great levels of loyalty, performance, attitude and conduct, experience, vision and demonstrated leadership. Between them these fine officers represent nearly 40 years of police experience and will have a major impact in this community."

Gibbons said Kelly has been with the since April 2001, and before that he was with the transit police since 1996. "He's experienced and he deserves it," Gibbons added.

"It's my second time (as sergeant)," Kelly said. "I was a sergeant with the New Jersey Transit Police before here. It's a major accomplishment, it's a great agency and I'm looking forward to the challenges. ...

"I was fortunate to have sergeants mentor me at New Jersey Transit and it carried on here, so I'm pretty happy," he said.

Cittrich started at the Chatham Borough Police Department as a dispatcher in December of 1996, said Gibbons, and joined the police ranks in 2002.

"It feels great," said Cittrich. "Everyone hopes to get promoted, and it shows you that hard work does pay off."

Jaremba joined the Chatham Borough PD relatively recently following a major decision. "Rick Jaremba was with the sheriff's department in 2005 to 2007 (and) made what we call an amazing decision to leave the sheriff's department and join the Chatham Police Department in September of '07," Collander said.

"The focus has been to hire qualified people to drive the police department, and we have done that," Collander added. "The next focus was to fill the vacancies that existed for some time in the ranks of sergeant, we have done that. All of our officers have gone through a rigorous training process for this job and an interview process to reach the rank of sergeant."

Gibbons said that sergeant is "the most important rank, I think, in the department for the overall direction of the agency, and I think they represent top-shelf, top-quality officers to fill those spots."