Ventnor Mayor Tim Kriebel swore in the new police chief Thursday.
Police Chief Joseph Wootton replaces Joseph Fussner, who retired May 1 following a 28-year career in the department.
Kriebel, who is commissioner of Public Safety, also promoted two officers to captain.
The meeting room was filled with family and friends, and many members of the Police and Fire departments lined the back and sides of the walls in support for their fellow comrades.
Wootton began his law enforcement career in Ventnor as a Class I Officer in 1996, and left to become a corrections officer at the Atlantic County Justice Facility. He worked there starting in 2000 until he returned to Ventnor as a full-time police officer in 2003.
His leadership path in Ventnor began with a promotion to patrol sergeant in 2012. He then attended the West Point Command and Leadership Program in 2014. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2015, and took on the role of administrative lieutenant in 2020, overseeing training, Internal Affairs and the department’s reaccreditation with the NJ Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.
He was promoted to captain in January 2022, bringing more than two decades of dedication, experience and professionalism to the department.
Louis Kabo takes the oath of office of captain in the Ventnor City Police Department.Louis Kabo and David Gaeckle were promoted to the rank of captain during the swearing-in ceremony. Both men are well qualified according to Civil Service regulations.
Kabo began his career as a patrol officer in Ventnor in 2007. He became a sergeant in 2014, then lieutenant in 2016, where he spent most of his time serving as a platoon commander.
In 2023, he moved into the police administration, taking over the department’s IT operations and assisting with various projects at the direction of the chief and captain.
He completed extensive training, including the prestigious West Point Command and Leadership Program, and served as a Drug Recognition Expert. He has also received several awards and recognition for outstanding service and leadership.
Kabo resides in Ventnor with his wife.
Gaeckle started his career in law enforcement as a Class I Officer serving for three summer seasons.
In 2007, he became a full-time police officer with Ventnor. Gaeckle was promoted to sergeant in 2015, and lieutenant in 2019, where he was a platoon commander. In 2021, he took the role of administrative lieutenant where he oversaw training, Internal Affairs and the department’s accreditation manager.
Gaeckle completed extensive training and was the commander of the department’s K-9 Unit.
During his time in the K9 Unit, he and his partner, Axel, received several awards and national recognition for outstanding service and performance.
David Gaeckle is sworn in as captain in the Ventnor City Police Department.In related news, the board also approved a resolution awarding Fussner a $61,629 payout representing unused accumulated time, which he earned during his years in the department.
Retirement payouts also were awarded to Firefighter Phillip Boyle in the amount of $55,134, and Firefighter Thomas Grimley in the amount of $58,268.
From left, Ventnor Mayor Tim Kriebel, Capt. David Gaeckle, Chief of Police Joseph Wootton, Capt. Louis Kabo and Commissioner Maria Mento.
