MANCHESTER – Several police officers, a firefighter, and a police chaplain took their oaths of office recently from Mayor Robert Hudak.
Patrolmen Sean Rembach and Joseph Stapleton joined Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician Nathan Brown, and Police Chaplain Reverend Dr. J. Francis Watson during a brief ceremony on September 6 before family, friends, police and firefighter personnel.
Rembach is a lifelong Manchester resident who previously served in the United States Army as a Military Police officer. In his career, he had been a Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II in Point Pleasant Beach and Patrolman in Cherry Hill.
He is a Manchester Township High School graduate who earned his Associates Degree from Central Texas College and is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree from Farleigh Dickinson University.
Patrolman Stapleton grew up in Brick Township and began his law enforcement career as a Special Law Enforcement Officer Class I in Bay Head.
The officer moved on to positions with the State Department of Corrections, Mantoloking Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Department. Stapleton graduated from Brick High School and then went on to complete his Associates Degree at Ocean County College.
Police Chief Robert Dolan explained that the intensive Manchester Police Department hiring process for the position of patrolman began in July of 2021, when approximately 100 individuals submitted their applications for employment.
The first phase of the process had applicants participating in the Physical Agility Examination held at the Manchester Township High School. The grueling physical test consisted of pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, and a one-mile run.
Those who achieved a passing score advanced to the boxing component. Those applicants who completed all portions of the physical exam were invited to participate in the written examination phase.
The top scorers then went before the Oral Board for extensive interviews. Those candidates considered for employment underwent a thorough background investigation and submitted to medical, psychological, and drug screenings.
The chief noted that these patrolmen will start the Manchester Township Police Department’s intensive 12-week Field Training and Evaluation Program where they will be instructed and mentored by several highly trained, veteran officers.
