SOMERS POINT — The city hired two new police officers to join the Somers Point Police Department pending graduation from the Atlantic County Police Academy.
City Council adopted two resolutions confirming the hiring of Anthony Capasso V and Michael Desrosiers Jr. as provisional officers effective Jan. 17.
Mayor Dennis Tapp said he is scheduled to swear in the officers May 16 and they will start lessons at the academy the next day.
Councilman Sean McGuigan vouched for the young men’s good nature.
“Both Mr. Capasso and Mr. Desrosiers I have known since little boys. I will attest that they will both be assets to a very strong police department,” he said.
“I wish both gentlemen well going through their training and I am looking forward to keeping our numbers up in the department,” Councilman Mike Owen said.
“I’m glad to see we have two new officers. The chief has been trying for a long time — this has been in the budget for at least a couple of years and we have been shorthanded. I think this is a really good thing that is happening for us,” Councilwoman Janice Johnston said.
“It is nice to see two new officers coming in; I know it’s been a while,” Councilman Howard Dill said.
Good work, DPW
During his mayor’s report, Tapp took the opportunity to thank the Public Works Department for clearing roads following the snowstorm Jan. 6 that dumped about 5 inches on the city — “we haven’t had snow in a couple of years.”
“What’s important here is that they brined, they took care of the main thoroughfares, which is important for us to get out of our neighborhoods, as well as pushing the snow as much as they can out,” Tapp said.
He recommended that residents park in their driveway when snow is expected because “it makes it easier for our plows and a lot of times they can get a lot closer to the curb so that way we can take our cars out of the driveway and back into the street safely without us having to dig them out.”
Councilman Howard Dill concurred.
“Public Works did an excellent job. One thing near and dear to my heart is the sanitary people were doing a great job picking up trash” despite the snow and strong winds. “Under extreme weather conditions, Public Works did a great job picking up trash and plowing.”
Engineer Greg Schneider said the plans for repaving New Jersey Avenue from Bay Avenue to Third Street were submitted to the DOT for approval. He expects a reply this month and bids in February.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff