Crime & Safety

Second Chance for Two of Nine New Police Officers

Two of the township's newly sworn-in police officers were laid off from jobs in Camden and Cherry Hill within the last year.

It was a night to be proud for all nine of the newest township police officers and their families.

Monday night's Township Council meeting also provided two of the nine officers a chance to breathe a sigh of relief after they both found themselves caught up in a numbers game.

Patrolmen Paul Byers and Brady Hort were previously laid off from jobs as police officers—Byers from the Camden Police Department and Hort from the Cherry Hill Police Department.

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"I'm honored to serve the residents of Gloucester Township. It's my hometown. I'm really happy to be here and to continue my career in law enforcement," Byers said moments after he was sworn in as a township police officer.

Byers, who graduated from Camden County Police Academy's 54th class, spent one year working as a Camden police officer before he was laid off in January.

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"It's tough because it was a rough few months that I was laid off," Byers said. "There are so many officers in departments all over the state that are laid off right now, so I'm glad to have this opportunity."

Hort spent nearly two years as a Cherry Hill police officer after graduating with Camden County Police Academy's 52nd class. He had to endure a bit more time wondering about his future in law enforcement than did Byers, having been laid off by Cherry Hill nearly 11 months ago.

"It was very tough. Had a newborn that was on the way and my wife was on maternity leave during that time, so it definitely came as a shock to myself," he said. "To be able to have an opportunity to join Gloucester Township, with the caliber of this department and township, it's definitely the opportunity of a lifetime."

The other seven officers who took oaths to protect and serve the township's residents Monday night were Patrolmen David Vannoni, Jason Smith, Nicholas Aumendo, Douglas Wallace, Joseph Eden, Benjamin Lewitt and Eric Marconi. All are graduates of Camden County Police Academy.

"This is certainly an exciting and special day for Gloucester Township, and I know it is a special day for the officers that were sworn in and your families," Mayor David Mayer said. "This is really an investment in our community. It's an investment in the security and the safety of all of our residents. ... As you heard from the chief's remarks about each of the officers, these are the best."


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