Lacey Township Police Promote 3 Officers

LACEY, NJ — The Lacey Township Police Department promoted three officers during a recent township committee meeting, including two officers sworn in as sergeants and one promotion tied to a retiring detective sergeant's post.

Chief Paul Sullivan Jr. said the moves are part of the department's effort to maintain supervision at all hours.

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He said one promotion was "a replacement promotion" for a detective sergeant who is retiring, while "the other two are part of the build out to get to the steady supervision."

Sullivan first called up Officer Dan Ricciardella and described him as a positive presence in the department. He said Ricciardella began his public service career in 2004 as a New Jersey EMT, became a paramedic in 2008 and was hired by the Lacey Township Police Department in 2013.

According to Sullivan's remarks, Ricciardella serves in several roles, including CPR instructor, medical supplies manager, radiological emergency response plan instructor, taser operator, rifle operator, crisis intervention team member, ATV operator and car seat technician. Sullivan also said Riciardella finished No. 1 on the New Jersey State Civil Service test among the local group.

Sullivan then spoke about Brian Flynn, a lifelong resident of Lacey Township who graduated from Lacey Township High School in 1996 and was hired by the department in August 2007. His father was also a Lacey police officer.

Flynn was recently appointed as a mentor at the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Law Enforcement Advanced Detective School. Most of his career has been spent in the Investigations Division.

The chief later introduced Jesse Dalziel, who was sworn in as a police sergeant. Sullivan said Dalziel moved with his family to Toms River in 1999, later earned degrees from Ocean County College and Kean University and began his law enforcement career in April 2014 with the Ocean County Sheriff's Office.

Sullivan said Dalziel joined the Lacey Township Police Department on Oct. 5, 2015, later served in patrol and was assigned to the investigative division as a detective in May 2020. He said Dalziel handled investigations involving homicide, aggravated assault, arson, burglary, fraud and child sexual abuse material offenses, and obtained more than 100 search warrants and other court orders.

At the close of the ceremony, Sullivan thanked those present for supporting the department's staffing efforts.

"I'm very proud of these guys, very proud of the officers that represent the town," he said. "Thank you guys for for allowing us this opportunity tonight to continue in building out this organization."