Stockton Campus Police Swears in Eight New Officers
Top row from left to right, Senior Vice President of Facilities and Operations Don Hudson, Director of Campus Public Safety Adrian Wiggins, Officer Casey Foncellino, Officer Kyle Twamley, Officer Colton Reed, Officer Jonathan Laboy, Officer Alexander Hale and Associate Director of Campus Public Safety Albert Handy. Bottom row: Officer Joseph Pizzuto, Officer Pablo Flores and Officer Bryan Merritt.
Galloway, N.J. –The Stockton University Police Department swore in eight new officers on June 9 during a ceremony for friends and family in the Michael Jacobson Board of Trustees Room in the Campus Center.
“This is a joyous occasion,” Director of Campus 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 include:
- 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 from the Atlantic County Police Training Center, and the 2017 Stockton graduate is one of three new officers who studied at Stockton.
Laboy graduated from Stockton in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and 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 came to Stockton after working as a corrections officer in Atlantic County. Before he had that job, he was a Stockton student working toward his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. He’s hoping to continue school now that his job is back on campus.
“It will be different. I sat in those seats where the students sit, and I still plan on sitting there,” said the 27-year-old from Pleasantville. “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 on his force.
“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.”
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-- Story by Mark Melhorn, photos by Eliza Hunt
