5 Hillsborough Police Officers Promoted

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Five police officers from the Hillsborough Police Department were promoted by the township committee on Tuesday to fill vacancies.

"It's an exciting time in the police department. You've worked a lot of years and this what you shoot for - to get promoted, to get to do a different job, and really exceed in your career. We had a lot of great candidates and really we are promoting some outstanding people tonight," said Hillsborough Police Chief Mike McMahon at the Township Committee meeting.

Jeremy Cuomo was promoted from Sergeant to Lieutenant. And Jason Beverett, Jack Howard, Christopher Engelhardt, and Philip Wolff were all promoted from Corporal to Sergeant.

"We have a great strong group of applicants which really made the process difficult so I think as far as residents should know you have a great foundation of a police force and you should be proud of them," said Deputy Mayor Janine Erickson.

Lieutenant Jeremy Cuomo has been working for the Department since December 2001. He was initially appointed as a Police Officer and assigned to the Patrol Division. He was promoted to Corporal in 2017 and then Sergeant in 2019. In 2021, Cuomo was appointed to the Traffic Bureau in the Services Division. With Cuomo's promotion to Lieutenant, he will serve as Services Commander. Lieutenant Cuomo holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice.

Throughout Cuomo's 20 years with the Department, he has received many commendations, command citations, and letters of appreciation for various jobs well-done. In January of 2017, he received a commendation for a job well done during an attempted suicide call. In February of 2019, he received a command citation for great work on an attempted homicide investigation. In July of 2020, he received another command citation for an outstanding job with an eluding case.

Sergeant Jason Beverett was appointed Police Officer in November 2001 and assigned to the Patrol Division from 2001 to 2003. In 2003 Beverett was assigned to the Services Division, Community Policing/Training Bureau, where he remained until moving back to the Patrol Division in 2011. From 2016 through 2020, Beverett served in the Traffic Bureau, Services Division. He was appointed as Corporal in the Patrol Division in January 2020 and Administrative Division Corporal in the Services Division in 2021. With his promotion to Sergeant, Beverett will continue to serve in the Administrative Division. Sergeant Beverett holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology.

Beverett received a command citation for hard work during Hurricane Ida and has received several letters of appreciation throughout his 20 years of service. Local organizations thanking him for his support of various events and initiatives include GiGi's Playhouse, the Hillsborough Social Services Department, Brownie Troop 60134, the NJ State Assoc. of Chiefs of Police for help with the NJ Special Olympics, Auten Road School, Watchung Police, and East Orange School for help with judging Annual STEM program.

Sergeant Christopher Engelhardt was hired as a Police Officer in November of 2004 and assigned to the Patrol Division, where he still serves. From 2008 through 2020, Engelhardt served in the K-9 Unit in the Services Division. He was promoted to Corporal in the Patrol Division in April of 2021.

Engelhardt, a dedicated member of the K-9 Unit for 12 years, made countless visits with K-9 companion Raider, Marco, or Freddy at his side to schools, libraries, and events in Hillsborough and surrounding communities. In 2019 Engelhardt participated in the Tri-State Police & Fire K-9 Maritime Training. Sergeant Engelhardt has received many letters of appreciation throughout his 17 years of service. Some notable letters include one in 2017 from Bernards Twp. Chief of Police for helping to locate a missing person with the K-9 Unit and another in 2020 from Men's Golf Club for helping with a person having a heart attack.

Sergeant Jack Howard graduated from the Police Academy and was appointed as a Police Officer in February 2007. Howard served in the Patrol Division from 2007 to 2014. He Served on the SCPO Narcotic Task Force in 2013 and was assigned to the Investigative Division from 2014 to 2019. Howard was assigned to the Patrol Division in 2019 and was promoted to Corporal in August 2020. He will continue to serve in the Patrol Division as Sergeant. Howard holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Justice Studies and a Master's Degree in Administrative Science.

In his 15 years with HTPD, Howard has received many awards and commendations, including a command citation for outstanding work for unlawful possession of a firearm investigation in 2019, a Top Cop Award for 2019, a commendation for good work in a domestic violence investigation in 2020, a commendation for good work during an animal cruelty investigation in 2021 and a command citation for a job well done during Hurricane Ida.

Sergeant Philip Wolff was hired in September 2014 and assigned to the Patrol Division. Wolff was promoted to Corporal in 2021 and will remain in the Patrol Division with his promotion to Sergeant.

In his nearly eight years with the Department, Wolff has received many recognitions, including a commendation for good work during a DWI stop and a commendation for exemplary work researching outer carriers for police officers in 2020. Wolff received a Top Cop Award for 2020. He also received a Medal of Merit and command citation for hard work during Hurricane Ida and commendations for good work in a domestic violence investigation and a job well done in a car burglary investigation in 2021.

"It is with honor that we elevate these dedicated Officers to the positions of Sergeant and Lieutenant," said Mayor Shawn Lipani.

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