STAFFORD – The meeting room at Town Hall was lined with Stafford Township Police Officers on March 19, there to support the newest addition to the force. Patrolman Zach Wiatrowski was sworn in as a full-time officer by Mayor Gregory Myhre to cheerful applause from his fellow officers.
Officer Wiatrowski is one of the youngest on the force at only 21 years old, but he has accomplished much already.
Wiatrowski lives in southern Ocean County and is a 2015 graduate of Pinelands Regional High School. From there, he went on to graduate in Class 40 from the Ocean County Police Academy in 2017. Wiatrowski received an associate’s degree from Ocean County College in May 2018 and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
He was appointed as a full-time, year-round Class II Officer for Stafford on January 9, 2018.
“I can tell you that in the 32 years I’ve been here in Stafford Township this gentleman has impressed me so much in what he’s done in such a short period of time,” said Chief Thomas Dellane.
Chief Dellane joked that Wiatrowski’s badge number was “depressing” as #118 compared to his #46 badge. “I’m feeling really old,” he said.
Chief Dellane also pointed out that Wiatrowski has been on the receiving end of five positive commendations from the public for his work ethic and compassion.
“We look for a higher level of physical fitness in our officers, but we also look for kind, compassionate, caring individuals,” said Dellane, noting that Wiatrowski fits the bill.
Wiatrowski received a letter of commendation from an elderly woman in Stafford that he met while responding to a call for a lift assist on February 9.
“Zach arrived on scene and witnessed the interaction between husband and wife and reflected to the woman that he hoped one day his wife would love and care for him the way that this woman did for her husband,” Dellane said. “That reduced the woman to tears and she had indicated to me that was one of the most impactful things that anyone had ever said to her.”
Chief Dellane and Mayor Myhre commended Wiatrowski for his accomplishments and welcomed his aboard the Stafford team.
