Montclair State University’s Police Department has welcomed six new officers to its force, as well as promoted three officers to the rank of sergeant.
The department held a Swearing-In Ceremony on Oct. 9 to induct the officers Brunson Graham, Danielle Dougherty, Christopher Gray, Mahbub Hossain, Brian Dominguez and Austin Reid. Before coming to Montclair State, these officers will be attending the Passaic County Police Academy for the next six months.
Included in this ceremony were the promotions of Amanda Rusticus and Jefferson Choi to the rank of sergeant, and Nicolette Aponte to detective sergeant. All three personnel reaffirmed their oath that night.
Chief Barrett promoting sergeant Rusticus. Photo courtesy of Mike Peters
Montclair State’s chief of police, Kieran Barrett, shared that these vacancies have been open since the height of COVID, due to issues of requirements and delays within the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, the body of governance in which the department reports to.
Although it was critical to fill these positions to reach an optimal level of staffing, Barrett assured that these new officers were not only carefully selected, but underwent rigorous testing to be sure they were mentally and physically up for the job.
“These candidates reflect our student population and they come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences that will serve this community well for years to come,” Barrett said.
Chief Barrett swearing-in officer Graham. Photo courtesy of Mike Peters
Barrett also explained how increasing police personnel will ultimately make Montclair State a safer campus.
“Having six more officers will allow the agency to concentrate more on problem-oriented solutions to things we face as a community,” Barrett said. He added that It will also help the department focus on more programs revolving around crime prevention, emergency preparedness and outreach.
Esteban Ocana, a sophomore majoring in molecular biology, said that more officers around campus would not only make students who dorm feel safer but also commuters, like himself.
Esteban Ocana, a sophomore majoring in molecular biology. Photo credit: Lauren Rivera
“[Having] more cops present and having more presence of law enforcement really just makes me personally feel safer and creates a safer environment on campus,” Ocana said.
Evangeline Cruz-Perez, a freshman studying business administration, expressed mixed opinions about the matter.
Evangeline Cruz-Perez, a freshman studying business administration. Photo credit: Lauren Rivera
“I feel like the presence of police officers is very vital,” Cruz-Perez said. “[However], as an Asian person, not to profile all cops, but some of them can be racist. All I hope is that these police officers are not going against people of color, especially because Montclair [State] is a very diverse university.”
To ensure that the Montclair State police department succeeds in making students feel safer, especially students of color, Barrett shared that they are working closely with the Student Government Association and other student organizations to hear concerns from students directly.
Barrett also explained that the intention of hiring more officers was not to create an uncomfortable environment for students.
“Increased staffing should not be looked at as a means to enforce more or create an environment of police control,” Barrett said. “This agency works closely with administration, students and staff to improve and maintain safety with a focus on the personal needs of every person that needs us.”
