3 Howell Officers Promoted, 5 Join Police Force

HOWELL, NJ — Howell Township celebrated the promotions of three officers and welcomed five new officers at the Howell Township reorganization meeting earlier this week.

Thomas Rizzo was promoted to captain; John Yurgel was promoted to lieutenant and Richard Conte was promoted to sergeant, Police Chief Andrew J. Kudrick Jr. said.

Capt. Rizzo began his law enforcement career in 2001 with the Middlesex Boro Police. In 2004 he joined the Howell police department. During his career, Rizzo has served as a detective and patrol supervisor, department/academy instructor, and field training officer. Most recently Rizzo commanded the Crime Suppression Unit. He is a college professor at both Rutgers and New Jersey City University. Rizzo has a master's degree from Seton Hall University. Rizzo will command the investigation and administration division.

Yurgel began his law enforcement career in 1995 as a Special Officer II in the Seaside Heights Police Department. In 1997, Yurgel was hired by the Montclair Police Department and worked there until joining the Howell force in 2000. He was promoted to sergeant in 2003 and assigned to the Patrol Division, and in 2015 he was assigned to policy and accreditation in the Services Division. Yurgel now is in the Investigation and Administration Division overseeing the detective bureau and internal affairs. He is a graduate of the Ocean County Police Academy and has a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from the University of Tennessee.

Conte began his law enforcement career in 1991 as a Special Officer I with the Sea Girt Police Department. In 1992 he graduated from the Monmouth County Police Academy as a Special Officer II in the Manasquan Police Department and in 1994 went to the Little Silver Police Department. In 1995 he joined the Monmouth University Police Department and worked there until joining Howell in 1997. In 2004 he was assigned and excelled as a detective responsible for evidence and identification. Conte has been the commander of the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team since 2009. He will be assigned to a patrol squad in the Operations Division.

In addition to the promotions, Stephanie Regina joined the Howell force as a patrolwoman, while Scott Colton Bigelow, Andrew Barone. Cody Fobes, and Matthew Niebling all were hired as Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II officers, Kudrick said.

Regina joined the Howell Police Explorers in 2004. After college, she was hired by the Point Pleasant Police Department as a Special Officer I. After a year she became a trooper with the Maryland State Police, where she was assigned to the patrol squad for three years. Regina will start with New Jersey certification at the Monmouth County Police Academy.

Kudrick also announced some new assignments: Patrol Sergeant Jack Headley was reassigned as a Detective Sergeant for the Crime Suppression Unit. Patrolmen Michael Pavlick, Terrence "TJ" Hurley, Ryan Richards and David Gilliland were reassigned as detectives for the Crime Suppression Unit. Patrolman Eric Encarnacion reassigned as a detective in Investigations.

Kudrick congratulated the officers as well as newly appointed Mayor Theresa Berger and Councilwoman Evelyn O'Donnell.

"My staff and I look forward to our partnership in enhancing our commitment to community," Kudrick said at the meeting, and thanked town officials for continued support in strengthening the department.

Photos via Howell Township Police 911 Communications