Sergeants are the most important supervisors in the department, Atlantic City Police Chief Henry White said.
They are the first line of oversight for the rank-and-file officers on the street who are the public face of the Atlantic City Police Department.
"We can't do what we need to without that level of supervisors," White said as the department got its largest class of promotions to sergeant in its history.
"This is a great day for the city of Atlantic City," Mayor Marty Small said.
It's an often-repeated line that he says is the message of his administration, measuring the city's successes in great days.
There are currently 267 sworn officers, and now 57 total sergeants, White said. The city also has the option for as many as 90 Special Law Enforcement II Officers, also known as Class II.
Three of them were promoted to full-time officers Monday.
"We believe in upward mobility," Small said. "This group is filled with Atlantic City residents and it's a really diverse class."
With Atlantic City no longer under Civil Service requirements, the promotions chosen not by a system based upon a test grade and seniority, but on an interview process that included checks into the candidates' work record, disciplinary history and attendance, the police chief said.
More than 100 officers were interviewed by a five-person panel, which included White. He would not name the other four, but said that he was the lone representative from the department.
“Governor (Phil) Murphy and I congratulate these fine officers on their professional achievement," Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver said in a statement after she was unable to attend the ceremony. "It is our expectation that their character, dedication and integrity will assist the Atlantic City Police Department in promoting a safe environment while also building bridges of mutual respect, trust and confidence within the community."
She said that the promotions were part of the state's commitment to Atlantic City.
Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner spoke in her place, saying he knew many of those who were promoted, having grown up in the city with some of them.He urged them to be the type of leaders they always wanted, even if that's not the kind they had."You are at a critical part in your career where you can truly be the change you want to see," Tyner said.
The new sergeants are Dembe Baako, Joseph Donatucci, Bryan Fleming, Jose Gonzales, Avette Harper, James Hurley, Susan Johnson, Mohammed Kaiser, Eugene Laielli, Kevin Law, Christopher LoDico, Ivan Lopez, Autumn Mason, Steven Melchiore, Lennin Moya, Annese Parks, Stephen Rando, Joseph Rauch, Jefferson Rivera, Jimmy Rodriguez, Eileen Shur, Timothy Smith, Garry Stowe and Innocenzo Visceglia.
Department spokesman, Sgt. Kevin Fair, said he didn't know which ones live in Atlantic City.
The promoted Class II officers who are now full-time are Joseph Kelly Jr., Kyle Ragland and Branden Vongsasombath. Under the rules of Class II officers, all three are currently city residents.
