"Promoted from sergeant to lieutenant, Lieutenant Michael Reinke has been a police officer since July 1990," he said. "He is the co-coordinator of the D.A.R.E. program and the junior police academy. He is married with three children. And he is my son."
The introduction by Lt. Reinke's father set the tone for the day, during which six Secaucus police officers were promoted to the rank of sergeant and another six were promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Police officer Captain Stanley Rozansky was also promoted to the new position of deputy police chief.
Mayor explains promotions
Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell made some remarks explaining to the proud group of family and friends assembled why the officers were being promoted.
"I think this is one of the largest promotion classes that I have ever seen," he said. "This is a growing community, and it is going to require another police patrol zone that will require more officers. We have committed in our most recent municipal budget for five more police officers coming after the first of the year. These men, and their promotions, are the preparation for that and to take our police department further into the 21st century. We are budget consciousness. Operating the police department is very expensive, and promotions cost money. But it's important that we keep up with the times and that we add people and that we promote."
Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Corcoran and Town Clerk Michael Marra then proceeded to swear the police officers in to their new positions.
The new Secaucus police sergeants are officers Carlos Goyenechea, Francis Cotter, Wayne Bruton, Christopher Doxbeck, Jack Picurro, and Dennis Miller.
The new Secaucus police lieutenants are officers David Ianuale, Kevin Flaherty, Glenn Amodeo, Michael Reinke, Michael Makarski, and John Cerny.
Sign of town growth and changes
With the hiring of the additional police officers, the Secaucus police department will be at its' highest force level since the early 1990's, with a total of 69 officers. The additional officers will also help fill vacancies in the department created by the call to active duty of police officers that are also members of the military. The police department will now also have one member assigned to the Hudson County's Prosecutor's Office as well as two additional officers assigned to the Rapid Deployment Team, which is also regulated by the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.
In another sign of the times, the promotion of Officer Goyenechea to sergeant marks the first time a Hispanic has reached the rank of sergeant on the Secaucus police force. Goyenechea's promotion helps Secaucus to comply with a federal mandate to hire and promote more minority police officers.
Family pride
The newly promoted officers and their families felt satisfied after the afternoon promotion ceremony.
"I'm very proud of my dad," Mike Makarski, 20, the son of Lieutenant Makarski. "It's been a long time coming. They are bringing in a lot of new guys, so you are going to need to some experienced leadership. I'm proud of everyone up there today. It's a comforting thing to know you have a police officer for a father. It makes you sleep easier at night."
Lieutenant Makarski's wife Pam talked about life in a law enforcement family.
"It's a hard family life, due to the hours that policemen work," she said. "You never know what's going to happen. So you just pray to God when he leaves, he comes home."
Lieutenant Makarski was quietly happy about his promotion.
"I'm relieved and happy," he said.
Sergeant Wayne Bruton, 30, reflected upon why he became a police officer in the first place.
"I used to watch the TV show CHiPs, and it inspired me," he said. "The Secaucus police test was the first police test that I ever took. I was sworn in at 19."
Bruton likes the sense of independence that his job gives him.
"It's very interesting being out there," he said. "You learn the streets and you learn the people. In Secaucus, we are a single man patrol, and I personally like riding alone. When you are by yourself, you are constantly making decisions. You are on your own two feet."
Lieutenant Kevin Flaherty knows why he goes out on the job every shift.
"I like to help people, and this is a good job to come and learn how to do that," he said.
At the end of the day, Hilary Makarski, 24, spoke for herself and her community regarding the promoted officers.
"My dad is my hero," she said. "He always was."
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