The township swore in new police officers and new firefighters on Wednesday.
EDISON -- Township officials swore in nine new officers as well as five new firefighters at a ceremony Wednesday as the police department continues to deal with ongoing legal battles and settlements.
Police Chief Thomas Bryan said in a statement that his department "has made tremendous strides over the past several years to increase its level of professionalism and provide a greater level of community service."
"Our new and current officers must always remember that wearing a badge is a privilege," he said. "It carries a solemn responsibility to safeguard our residents and uphold high standards of conduct. Our mayor and council, my command staff and I, expect officers to take those responsibilities very seriously."
The new police hires brings the department to 186 sworn officers -- the most since 2011, the township said. And, the five additions to the fire department brings the staffing to 137 firefighters.
"Municipal government's first priority is to ensure the safety of its residents and visitors," Mayor Thomas Lankey, who administered the oaths for the officers and firefighters at the municipal complex, said in a statement.
"Hiring qualified police officers and firefighters, and providing the most effective number of boot-on-the-street is the best way for Edison to meet that goal," Lankey said.
The new police officers sworn in Wednesday included: Scott Benedickson, Shirley Dong, Matthew Eitel, Matthew Haley, Ankur Mankad, Michael Piperato, Harpinder Singh, Anthony Steneck and Stephen Susalla.
The new firefighters included: Darrin Bisogno, Christopher Connor, Mario Hamilton, Joseph Roco and Richard Schreck.
The township recently approved a roughly $244,000 settlement to an officer over a matter dating back to 2012.
And ongoing is the case of former Edison police officer Michael Dotro, who is facing trial on charges he plotted with another officer to set fire to a captain's home in 2013.
Six of the new police hires already work at other police departments in New Jersey and three paid for their own police academy training, officials said.
Lankey said hiring trained officers means that "they can hit the streets sooner and come aboard at the most reasonable cost to our taxpayers."
Starting salaries for police officers is $50,000 and roughly $36,500 for new firefighters, according to the township.
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