New Bernards Police Officer Will Replace Retiring Sergeant

The hiring of a new Bernards Township police officer, recruit Anthony England, will keep the number of officers on the township police force at 38, with England due to replace retiring police Sgt. Joshua Fowler.

Englund, whose hiring was approved on Tuesday by the Bernards Township Committee, will be paid an annual salary of $50,000, and is due to be sworn in on July 15, according to the resolution approved by the Township Committee.

Fowler will stay on the force into July, said Township Administrator Bruce McArthur.

Anthony England Jr. graduated from the Monmouth County Police Academy on May 23 of this year, said Bernards Police Capt. Ed Byrnes. England graduated from Kean University in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a minor in public administration, according to Byrnes.   

"Anthony stood out during our recruiting process and comes highly recommended and we are looking forward to having him join our team," Byrnes added on Wednesday.

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

Fowler was appointed on July 25, 1988, Byrnes said.

He had earned a masters degree from Seton Hall University in 1998 and was promoted to sergeant in 2000, according to Byrnes.

"Josh has served very capably for over 25 years," Byrnes said. "While Josh is currently assigned to the traffic and services division, he spent much of his career as a patrol supervisor," he added.

Fowler has been both a DARE instructor, teaching students about drug education, and a firearms instructor, Byrnes said. "His experience and friendly demeanor will be missed when he retires later this summer."