NORTHFIELD — Johnathan Scull was raised in a law enforcement family and will continue that tradition after becoming the Northfield Police Department’s first full-time Special Law Enforcement Officer (SLEO) Class II.
A 2014 graduate of Mainland Regional High School, he grew up in the city, having attended Northfield Community School.
“It’s just a fantastic town,” Scull said. “The school system, parents, kids, everyone is very nice around here.”
Scull’s father is a retired captain with the New Jersey State Police. Scull followed in his father’s footsteps when he began working for the city in September 2020 as a part-time SLEO. He was promoted to full-time status in November after graduating from the Atlantic County Police Training Center in July 2021.
While on duty, SLEO Class II officers are authorized to exercise full police powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer, Police Chief Paul Newman said.
Scull, 26, earned an associate degree in applied science from Atlantic Cape Community College and studied at Mercer County Community College to become a licensed funeral director, another family tradition.
Scull said he grew up with structure in his house and strives to provide that to families that need it.
“Supporting people that need guidance is really important,” he said, noting that carries over into his other profession.
“When they call the police, it’s usually the worst day of their life so I try to talk it down as not as bad,” he said. “I really enjoy giving guidance.”
Scull said he is grateful to the city and police department for sponsoring him at the academy, something he said the city rarely does.
“They jumped through a lot of hoops to send me to the academy,” he said, noting he was the first since 1994.
Scull said it was comforting to know that if he passed the academy he was assured employment. He said some cadets pay for themselves without any guarantee of a job.
“It was a big relief knowing if I did a good job that I would have a good job,” Scull said. He decided to stay because he likes the small-town charm.
“I really enjoy the people around here. South Jersey is really laid-back. You can go into stores and people recognize you, know your name. People are willing to talk, whereas up north, they’re just there to do business and go home,” he said. “Northfield is more of a family town.”
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff