Montgomery Appoints Two Probationary Police Officers; Chief Outlines Recruitment Strategy and Department Goals

Nicholas Mistretta

MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — The Township Committee approved the hiring of two probationary police officers at its Oct. 16 meeting, following remarks from Police Chief Silvio Bet on the department’s recruitment process and long-term staffing goals.

The Committee adopted Resolution #25-10-327 appointing Gerardo Toledo and Resolution #25-10-328 appointing Hugo Calderon Rojas as probationary officers in the Montgomery Township Police Department. Roll-call votes recorded unanimous support among members present, with affirmative votes: Committee Members Martin, Ahn, Taylor-Todd, Deputy Mayor Berrigan, and Mayor Singh.

Chief Bet: “Recruitment is about shaping the future of our organization”

Before the swearing-in, Chief Bet thanked Lt. Larson, Sgt. DeWitt Giles, and Officer Sean Devlin for leading a comprehensive recruitment effort “from planning, coordinating, conducting interviews to presenting the final candidates.” Emphasizing values-based hiring, he said, “Recruitment is not just about filling vacancies, it’s about shaping the future of our organization,” and requires “commitment, discernment, integrity, and…a deep understanding of our mission and values.”

According to Chief Bet, the latest process began in February with 96 applicants. Three candidates advanced to conditional offers and final interviews with the Township Committee; all three were affirmed by the Committee, with two appointments made on Oct. 16. He also highlighted progress toward his five-year plan, launched when he became chief in November 2022, to make Montgomery a “destination police department.” Since 2022, 7 of the last 17 hires have come from other police agencies; 3 of those 7 were recruited by officers who themselves joined Montgomery from other departments—an indicator, he said, of growing retention and reputation.

Chief Bet noted a competitive countywide hiring landscape, with multiple agencies recruiting simultaneously, and thanked the Township Committee for its ongoing partnership in recruitment strategies.

New Officers: Education, experience, and language skills

• Gerardo Toledo (Ewing, N.J.) earned a B.S. in Business Administration and Management from Montclair State Universityin May 2024. He worked as a project management administrator for Municipal Maintenance Company in Cinnaminson and volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
• Hugo Calderon Rojas (Bridgewater, N.J.) earned an A.S. in Criminal Justice from Raritan Valley Community College in 2024 and previously served as a lead security officer with RWJ Barnabas Health in Somerset and Somerville.

Chief Bet noted that both officers are multilingual and fluent in Spanish, calling that “a great asset not only to our department but to contiguous police agencies” surrounding Montgomery.

Training Timeline

Both officers are scheduled to attend the 22-week Basic Course for Police Officers at the Passaic County Police Academy beginning in November (anticipated start Nov. 12).

Chief Bet welcomed the new hires “into the Montgomery Township PD family,” and the Committee expressed appreciation for the department’s recruiting work and its collaboration with township leadership.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com