Crime & Safety

Another Bernards Police Officer Retires, Recruitment For New Officer to Begin

Officer had managed crossing guards for Bernards Township school system.

For the second time within about two weeks, a Bernards Township police officer has retired from the 38-member department. Patrol Officer Max Sidoli III's last day on the job was Friday.

Sidoli said he worked as part of the Bernards Township Police Department for 21 years, as well as gaining four years of credit for his four years of service as a U.S. Marine.

He had been working in the traffic division, and Bernards Police Chief Brian Bobowicz said that one of Sidoli's duties had been to manage the 22 crossing sites for the Bernards Township school district.

"When Max told me he was going to retire, I asked him not to," Bobowicz said. 

Sidoli himself said he feels he was "lucky" to obtain a spot on the Bernards Township force 21 years ago. "It's been a great place, and I will miss everyone," Sidoli said on Friday.

Bernards Township Administrator Bruce McArthur said that the recruitment process is just starting to hire a new 38th officer for the force. The officer's base salary is $105,186, he said in response to a question.

Bobowicz said another hire will be made "whenever we find the right person," but he expects another officer will be added by the end of the calendar year.

Sidoli's responsibilities also included handling Meghan's Law requirements for registered sex offenders.

The Bernards Township Committee will honor Sidoli at a later date, McArthur said. 

Sidoli said his retirement doesn't officially begin until October.

Police Sgt. Joshua Fowler's last day on the job at police headquarters was in late July, but a new patrol officer, Anthony England, had been hired beforehand and already had been sworn in during mid-July.

Fowler been in the department for 25 years, most recently in the traffic division as a officer and also became one of the township's motorcycle officers, according to information from the police department.

Fowler had been appointed on July 25, 1988, Capt. Ed Byrnes said previously.

Patrol Officer Anthony England, a new recruit hired by the Bernards Township Committee in June to replace Fowler as the department's 38th officer on the force, already was sworn in on July 12.

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The Township Committee also voted in June to pay Fowler accrued vacation time of 126.67 hours, for a total payment of $6,946.58.

Base pay for a sergeant currently is $112,062, according to figures from the township. As a new recruit, England is being paid an annual $50,000.

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