Manchester Swears In 2 New Police Officers

MANCHESTER, NJ — Two new officers were recently sworn in to the Manchester Township Police Department, officials announced.

Patrolman Jason Tarabokija and Special Law Enforcement Officer II Robert Campolei were sworn in by Mayor Kenneth T. Palmer during a ceremony at the municipal complex. The officers were hired in response to recent and anticipated retirements within the department.

Tarabokija, 30, who lives in Point Pleasant, joins the department after working as a teacher with the Manchester Township School District for the past seven years. He is a 2011 magna cum laude graduate of Rowan University with a bachelor's degree in history and education. He also is a certified ocean lifeguard and worked at Island Beach State Park since June 2006.

Campolei, 32, of Lacey, is a graduate of Ocean County College and Lincoln Technical Institute of Technology, where he received a degree in master certified automotive technologies in 2007. He began his law enforcement career in 2015 as a SLEO I with the Seaside Heights Police Department, and after graduating from the Ocean County Police Academy worked as a SLEO II for Seaside Heights and later Lacey Township.

The swearing in ceremony was led by Chief Lisa Parker, who explained that the intensive Manchester Township Police Department hiring process that began in January with 170 applicants and included a physical agility exam with a boxing component, a written exam and extensive interviews. Those candidates considered for employment underwent a thorough background investigation and submitted to medical, psychological, and drug screenings.

"Our rigorous and demanding hiring process ensures that only the best recruits are invited to join the ranks of the Manchester Township Police Department,” Parker said. “Patrolman Tarabokija and Special Officer Campolei have proven that they are upstanding and driven individuals who possess the strong character required to succeed as a law enforcement officer."

Tarabokija has begun basic training at the Ocean County Police Academy, whild Campolei was set to undergo the department’s 12-week Field Training and Evaluation Program.

Patrolman Jason Tarabokija, Police Chief Lisa Parker and Special Law Enforcement Officer II Robert Campolei. Photo provided by Manchester Township Police