"I wish you the best," Diaz said to the crowd of more than 100 packed into the YMCA Auditorium Wednesday
PERTH AMBOY -- The city added a dozen officers to the police force Wednesday in a ceremony at which officials lauded the new members of law enforcement on their character, education and determination.
Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz thanked the officers' family and friends for their support before swearing in the class of 12, who had spent the last few months at the police academy.
"I wish you the best," Diaz said to the crowd of close to 150 people packed into the YMCA auditorium on New Brunswick Avenue Wednesday afternoon. It was standing room only in the hall by 3:40 p.m., with dozens of local police and firefighters in attendance to welcome the new class.
Acting Chief of Police Roman McKeon congratulated the 12 officers after they were sworn in, each flanked by family on a stage during their oaths. As he highlighted the achievements of the officers, the recently appointed acting chief told the crowd of obstacles each had overcome to receive their badges.
"She still worked to be an officer even after the shooting," McKeon said of Officer Keshia Borst, whose cousin was one of the Linden officers shot by accused terrorist Ahmad Kahn Rahimi. "That speaks to her character."
"The police academy can't teach you character," he said. "You either have it or you don't and these 12 young officers have it."
Another officer, who received a badge on Wednesday despite her tragic family ties to the local police force, was Brittany Jimenez. Her cousin, Thomas Raji, was the only officer in the Perth Amboy Police Department to die in the line of duty. The 31-year-old officer was killed in a car crash in 2008.
Praising the new class of police additions on their college education, many of which focused in criminal justice, McKeon said to the crowd, "we like to use our minds to fight crime."
The class of new officers sworn in Wednesday: Nelson Alicea, Jr., Benjamin Batista, Luis Batista, Selina Marie Diaz, Willie Paul DeJesus, Selina Marie Diaz, Juaquin Gomez, Jr., Jeremy Harris, Edwin Hernandez, Bobby Minaya and Jason Perez.
Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
