Five Stafford Township police officers were promoted in a ceremony at last Tuesday’s council meeting.
The officers’ friends and family filled the council chambers as they were introduced to the audience and praised by Police Chief Joseph Giberson for their achievements and years of service to the department and the community.
The five officers and their new ranks are:
Capt. Thomas Dellane, a 26-year veteran of the force, who holds a law degree from Rutgers University School of Law and BA from Stockton State College.
The 47-year-old Dellane is resident of Stafford Township, who has been married 23 years to his wife, Sherry and they have four children Jennifer, Stephanie, Ryan and Emily.
Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
He is a past president of the Stafford Board of Education and a founding member of the Stafford Police Foundation.
Lt. Herman O. Pharo is a 15-year veteran of the force.
He was a member of the SWAT team that recently took first place in World SWAT Challenge in Little Rock, AK.
Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The 37-year-old is a lifelong resident of Stafford Township who has been married for 16 years to his wife, Lorraine and they have two children, Austin and Rachel. He is also a baseball coach for Stafford Township Recreation League.
Lt. James R. Vaughn, who is also a 15-year veteran of the force, is 39 and has been married for 13 years to wife, Colleen. They have two children, Riley and Connor.
Vaughn was awarded a Command Citation for the arrest of two armed Blood gang members.
He holds a Master’s Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University, is a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve veteran, past member of the Stafford Planning Board and a coach of both basketball and soccer for Stafford Township Recreation.
Sgt. Kenneth Schiattarella is also a 15-year veteran of the force and member of the SWAT team that took first place in the World SWAT Challenge recently.
He also is a baseball coach in the Stafford Township Recreational league.
He is married to his wife, Mary Ann, and they have three children, Michael, Gianna and Christian.
Sgt. Olev Allikmaa is a 16-year veteran of the force and a Police Defensive Tactics Instructor and Ocean County Police Academy Physical Fitness Instructor.
The 46-year-old resident of Stafford Township is married to wife his Allison and they have four children, Amanda, Eric, Kelly Fay and Jennifer Fay.
As each officer was introduced to the audience, family members came forward and pinned the officers’ new ranks on them.
According to the mayor and chief’s opening remarks these promotions are a part of the restructuring of the police department to streamline it and make it more efficient.
