Two Promoted, Two Hired at Police Department

Two officers were promoted and two were hired during a Monday morning ceremony which also of the department's recent restructuring.

Promoted were officers Salvatore Ventri and Vincent Manco to sergeant and lieutenant, respectively, as the department filled supervisor positions that were vacated by . Promotional testing began last year on July 15 and concluded on Sept. 15.

"It's not an easy process, what these guys go through," said Chief of Police Brian Klimakowski. "It usually comes down to a hundredth of a point that separates these guys."

Ventri, a 1996 graduate of the Ocean County Police Academy, began his career in Manchester July 1997 as a Class II officer and was hired full time in Nov. 2007 in the patrol division. He finished fourth in the recent testing process, according to Klimakowski. 

Ventri has spent nine years with Manchester Emergency Response Team, is a certified firearms instructor and serves as a field training officer. Among his commendations, Ventri has two meritorious service awards and the 9/11 Recognition Award for traveling to New York to help at the World Trade Center site following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Klimakowski said. Ventri is currently attending Fairleigh Dickinson University in pursuit of a bachelor's degree. 

The new sergeant, emotional at times, thanked his family and colleagues, and pledged to continue serving the residents of Manchester.

"I'm going to try to do this without crying," he said. "I look forward to helping every one of them and doing the best I can."

Finishing third in the promotion process, Manco joined the department in Jan. 1999 as a Class II officer and became a full time patrolman in May 1999. He has held positions as a detective and patrol sergeant before taking the oath as lieutenant, and has worked as a DARE officer, certified drug recognition expert and is a member of the Ocean County Regional SWAT team.

Before becoming a police officer, Manco, who holds a master's degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, served four years in U.S. Marine Corps. He has been presented with the 2011 Chief's Achievement Award, the department medal of honor, and two life saving medals. 

Manco thanked his family for their help and understanding as he studied for the exam over the past summer.

"I appreciate the opportunity and I'm looking forward to the challenges I'll be facing in the new position," he said. 

In addition to the promotions, the department welcomed two new patrolmen, 24-year-old Joseph Reilly and 26-year-old Keith Craig. 

"These two men, when all was said and done, landed in the top of the pile and they came in the top 10 of those 270 applicants," Klimakowski said. "They seem to be ready to spend the next 25 years here in Manchester."

Prospective officers applied to take the physical fitness test in April, the first part of the hiring process. Of those who passed, 170 were given the written exam, and the top 25 scorers on that were then considered for positions. The best are then invited back for more interviews. 

Before being sworn in, the Klimakowski spoke about how the department looks for potential officers who have integrity and do the right thing "even when no one is looking."

"I think that's probably the most important attribute of a police officer," he said. 

Reilly, a 2006 Toms River High School East graduate, enlisted in in U.S. Marine Corps and served for five years, earning the rank of sergeant. He served for two years in Japan and completed a tour in Iraq as a police transition advisor. Before receiving an honorable discharge in May 2011, Reilly was awarded with two Navy and Marine Corps achievement medals, Klimakowski said. He is currently pursuing an associate's degree from Ocean County College.

"Looking at this young man, would you believe he has that kind of history?" said Mayor Michael Fressola.

Reilly thanked his family for their support while he was away on military service and looked ahead to his work in Manchester.

"I look forward to working with the community," he said.

A Manchester native, Craig is a 2003 graduate who holds a bachelor's degree in law and society from Ramapo College. The ROTC student of the year award recipient completed the Ocean County Police Academy in 2008, worked for the Seaside Park Police Department and was recently employed as a tennis instructor, Klimakowski said. 

Craig had been through the hiring process two previous times but had "fallen just shy of getting hired," Klimakowski said. His persistance paid off.

"Thank you very much for this opportunity," Craig said to those in attendance at the ceremony.

With the addition of two new hires on Jan. 30, eight officers have been hired over the last five months. In July, the department had 61 officers; even with retirements, that number now has risen to 64.