Two officers join ranks at E.B. Police Department

EAST BRUNSWICK - The township's police force filled two vacancies Monday when a pair of former Rutgers Police Department officers were sworn in at town hall.

Director of Public Safety Barry W. Roberson announced the addition of Richard McGilvery and Felix De La Cruz. With the two on board, the department has a total of 93 officers.

The department has undergone numerous changes over the past year, as Capt. Keith Wilkerson and Detective Ronald Keaveney retired in February. Capts. James Sullivan and Kenneth O'Connor retired less than a year earlier. The various retirements led to a number of promotions within the department over the past year, in addition to new hires.

McGilvery, 28, is a graduate of Rutgers College, Rutgers University, with a bachelor's degree in history, and is currently working toward a master's degree in U.S. history at Rutgers University in Newark.

McGilvery completed his basic training at the Cape May County Police Academy and has spent the past two years as a patrolman with the Rutgers University Police Department in New Brunswick.

After completing field training, the New Brunswick resident will be assigned to East Brunswick's patrol section.

De La Cruz, 27, is also a graduate of Rutgers University with a bachelor's degree in administration of justice. He is currently attending Fairleigh Dickinson University and is pursuing a master's degree in administrative science with a concentration in global security, terrorism and emergency management.

De La Cruz speaks fluent Spanish, and though fluency in other languages is not a requirement, the department considers it to be beneficial, as police often encounter situations in which people speak partial English or no English at all.

De La Cruz completed his basic training at the Cape May County Police Academy in January 2004, and has spent the last four years working for the Rutgers University Police Department as a patrolman. He is currently a member of the Army National Guard.

The North Brunswick resident will be assigned to East Brunswick's patrol section after completing field training.