Catching Up With Caldwell's New Chief

After serving under five leaders during just 15 years on the force, Caldwell’s new police chief, James Bongiorno, says he looks forward to bringing stability to the position.

Chief Bongiorno, 38, was , but has been at the head of the agency since November, when he was appointed officer in charge by the borough council. Bongiorno succeeds late last year.

Less than 10 weeks into the job, Bongiorno has already worked with the borough's governing body to , as well . He’s currently in the process of moving offices and rejiggering the department’s tight headquarters within Borough Hall.

With his characteristic bright eyes and warm smile, Bongiorno said he feels very fortunate to have been able to work his way up the ranks, but has been too busy to take it all in.

“I don’t think I’ve had a second to reflect yet on it,” he told Patch Wednesday. “I’m just so focused on this job and making this the best agency it can be.”

Bongiorno graduated from William Paterson University and trained at the Morris County Police Academy. He was hired by the in December 1996 as the agency’s first alternate route officer. Since then, he said, all hires have come through the program, which requires trainees to pay their way through the academy.

Bongiorno was promoted to sergeant in 2003 and to lieutenant in 2008. Along the way, he earned a master’s degree in Human Resources Training and Development from Seton Hall University.

The new chief said his goal is to provide the Caldwell community with the best possible service. To that end, he said he has already taken a few steps, including designating a community relations officer and adding manpower to the detective bureau. The former was accomplished by adding an officer and raising the department’s headcount from 20 to 21.

Det. Lt. Anthony Marta will now have some company in the detective bureau in Det. Brad Palatucci, who will also serve as the new community relations officer. Palatucci’s role will include working with the Caldwell Merchants Association to address concerns in the downtown.

By having a two-man detective bureau, Bongiorno said, he no longer has to take a patrol officer off the road to assist with an investigation.

“That’s going to allow my patrols to be more out there, to be visible,” he said.

The chief said the community wishes to get to know the officers better. He plans to accomplish that by having officers walking the downtown more, as well as patrolling on bikes and meeting with residents at town events. He said this will allow residents to have positive interactions with officers while there is not a crisis.

“Nobody calls the police when they are having a good day,” he said. “You are seeing them at the worst of times.”

Bongiorno said another goal is to continue to add new technology, seeking grants rather than putting the burden on taxpayers whenever possible. Short-term plans include adding a Facebook page and Twitter account for the department, as well as upgrading their website to be more user-friendly.

The chief lives 30 miles away in Byram Township, where he grew up, with his wife, Audra, and their two children, a 13-year-old girl, Ashley, and 3-year-old son, James. When he's not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, working out and coaching his daughter's softball team.

He said as a young man he was drawn to a career in law enforcement because he liked the idea of being out and about and helping people.

“There was nothing routine about it,” Bongiorno said.

Now 15 years into his career he is honored to be at the helm of the Caldwell Police Department. He said he thinks his department has an excellent reputation, and that’s something he will go great lengths to maintain.

“We are here for the community and we want the community to know that,” he said. “We want everybody to be proud of their police department.”