"It's what I always wanted to do," Richmond said. "I had a bunch of uncles and cousins who were police officers, and it was always something that interested me. As soon as I could, I took the test because I knew that's what I was going to do. My mind was always set."
Now, two decades after he took the oath as a North Bergen police officer, the 41-year-old Richmond has been promoted to the second highest rank in the entire department, after taking the oath of captain during ceremonies at the township's council chambers Wednesday afternoon.
Richmond was one of seven township police officers to receive a promotion during the ceremonies Wednesday. Four others, Robert Hovan, James Somers, Robert Dowd and Gerald Sanzari, were promoted from sergeant to lieutenant. Two, namely Peter Fasilis and Christopher Brignola, were elevated from police officer to sergeant.
North Bergen Police Chief Angelo Busacco said that all seven have been exemplary officers and have received numerous state and departmental commendations, including from the 200 Club of Hudson County, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Knights of Columbus.
"All of them have been decorated many times over," Busacco said.
For Richmond, it was a crowning moment on what has been a stellar career in law enforcement. For the last 13 years, Richmond has headed the department's traffic division, monitoring the ebb and flow of one of the most heavily traveled areas in terms of vehicular activity.
"It is a congested area, so handling the traffic has been a challenge," Richmond said. "I've been trying to the best of my ability to make the streets as safe as possible. Now, I definitely have more of a burden. I'm looking forward to the new challenges and I'm grateful to the mayor [Nicholas Sacco] and commissioners for giving me the opportunity."
Tested
Richmond first took the state Department of Personnel's promotional test three years ago and got his chance to make the step up after the retirement of Capt. Robert Carmeci last December.
"It was just a matter of patience for me," Richmond said. "I was fortunate that there was a captain ready to retire, and with the opening, I got the opportunity."
In the eyes of Busacco, it was a promotion well-earned - not just for Richmond, but for all seven honored.
"They all waited patiently for the openings," Busacco said. "We were understaffed, but the mayor and commissioners seemed it fit to go through the promotional list. They're all more than well deserving."
Busacco said that Richmond will be in charge of the patrol division, while currently maintaining his responsibilities with the traffic division. Sanzari and Somers will be assigned to the squad system as tour commanders. Hovan, who had been working in the detective bureau, will be the lieutenant on duty for the night shift. Dowd will continue to work in the record room, only now as a lieutenant. Brignola will be assigned to street crimes and Fasilis will be the liaison to the counter-terrorism task force.
Busacco said that he will eventually find someone to replace Richmond in the traffic department.
"For now, Gary can handle it, but we will address it down the road," Busacco said.
Sacco said that he was pleased to be able to provide promotions to his deserving police officers.
"It had been a while since we had a list of promotions," Sacco said. "But we were able to work with Chief Busacco and Commissioner [Theresa] Ferraro [the commissioner in charge of public safety] to provide promotions to our strongest candidates. I think it's good for the morale of the entire department to be able to offer promotions."
Busacco agreed.
"We have to be able to motivate our officers to want to strive for more," Busacco said. "We don't want to stop their growth. When they see we're getting a chance to promote from within, it gives them hope to want to achieve."
For Richmond, it is just another shining moment in what has been a great year. Richmond's wife Pamela is pregnant and due in September. The couple's daughter, Victoria, just turned a year old on Sunday, joining her older brother, Kyle, 14.
"It's been a great year for me," said Richmond, who was promoted to lieutenant in 1999. "And it's only February."
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