Three Police Officers Promoted

Three South Orange police officers were promoted at Monday night's Board of Trustee meeting and sworn in by Village President Douglas Newman: Cpt. Edward Heckel, Lt. Joseph Levanda and Sgt. Alan DiEsso.

Heckel, who was promoted from a lieutenant to a captain, is a 15-year veteran of the department and a graduate of the Newark Police Academy, Caldwell College (undergraduate) and Monmouth University (master's in criminal justice). He was promoted to sergeant in 2000 and lieutenant in 2006 and worked for five years in Community Relations. He'll now be overseeing the Patrol Division. He's married with three children.

Levanda, who was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant, is a 12-year veteran and a Seton Hall graduate. He was promoted to sergeant in 2006 and has been assigned to Community Relations since October 2008. He'll now be assigned to Patrol. He's married with two children.

DiEsso, who was promoted to a sergeant, is a 12-year veteran who has served the bulk of his career in Patrol. He's received numerous commendations for outstanding police work, according to Chief James Chelel, and is a practitioner of mixed martial arts in his spare time. He's married with four children.

"I'm very fortunate to have these three good men," said Chelel. "I'm sure they'll serve the residents of the town well."