Provided/From left, top row, Stockton Senior Vice President of Facilities and Operations Don Hudson, Director of Campus Public Safety Adrian Wiggins, Officers Casey Foncellino, Kyle Twamley, Colton Reed, Jonathan Laboy and Alexander Hale, and Associate Director of Campus Public Safety Albert Handy. Bottom row: Officers Joseph Pizzuto, Pablo Flores and Bryan Merritt.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP – The Stockton University Police Department June 9 swore in eight new officers during a ceremony held in the Michael Jacobson Board of Trustees Room at the Campus Center.
“This is a joyous occasion,” Director of Public Safety Adrian Wiggins said. “We’ve not had in recent years eight officers brought up in the same time period. Certainly not seven that have recently graduated from the (Atlantic County Police Training Center). I am affectionately calling them ‘The Great Eight.’”
The new officers are:
- Pablo Flores of Galloway Township
- Jonathan Laboy of Egg Harbor Township
- Bryan Merrit of Mullica Township
- Alexander Hale of Pleasantville
- Casey Foncellino of Bloomingdale
- Colton Reed of Egg Harbor Township
- Kyle Twamley of Robbinsville
- Joseph Pizzuto of Toms River
Pizzuto is the only member of the group who was not part of the recent graduating class of the Atlantic County Police Training Center, and the 2017 Stockton graduate is one of three new officers who studied at Stockton.
Laboy, who graduated from Stockton in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, said it was his time at Stockton that convinced him to become a police officer.
“I think it’s funny how everything comes full circle,” the 24-year-old said. “I saw an opportunity to serve a community that helped me through the most trying or difficult years…It’s a dream come true.”
Hale, 27, of Pleasantvilee, came to Stockton after working as a corrections officer in Atlantic County. He’s hoping to continue his education now that he is working on campus.
“It will be different,” he said. “I sat in those seats where the students sit, and I still plan on sitting there. I want to be a role model for the students…I want to be able to guide them on the right path.”
Setting a good example in the community is something Wiggins said is crucial to the officers in the department.
“I want you to always remember that it’s always for the people,” he said addressing the new officers. “The people are the men and women who serve students or who are students themselves. If we are serving correctly and with a sincere heart, then we will truly make an impact on the people.”
