Officer Kevin Buchanan: Hired August 8, Officer Buchanan earned a degree in criminal justice from Brookdale Community College. He previously with the Sea Bright Police Department as a Special Officer II before being hired by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department for Corrections.
Officer Kevin Ging: Officer Ging also joined the Monroe Township Police Force on August 8, arriving from Georgia, after working five years at police departments, serving as a Field Training Officer. Ging earned a business management degree from Rutgers University.
Officer Jose Ocasio came on board August 28. In 2019, Ocasio was a combat medic in the U.S. Army, deployed overseas. Ocasio was an EMT working out of University Hospital in Newark before becoming a corrections officer and serving with the Newark Police Department.
Sergeant Daniel Mackin was hired in January 2005 and has been with the Monroe Township Police Force for 17 years. He has shown exemplary leadership ability while serving in the patrol division. Prior to his promotion, Mackin had been the senior officer on his patrol squad for the last six years.
Sergeant Justin Caruso joined the Monroe Township Police Force in December 2007 and has been with the MTPD for 15 years. Caruso served in the patrol division from 2007 -2019, working as senior shift officer and as a field training officer. In 2019, Caruso was assigned to the detective bureau, assigned to the investigation division for the last four years. Caruso has distinguished himself on several occasions, clearing cases involving interstate multi-jurisdictional financial/white collar crime.
Sergeant Jeffrey Paglio was hired in January 2014 after earning a degree from NJIT in business management. Paglio, who is currently serving in the patrol division, has trained the majority of the Township’s new hires through the field training program. He has been able to instill his dedication and professionalism of the job.
Sergeant Joseph Vella joined in the MTPD in August 2006 serving in the patrol division. Vella has served as a traffic officer and is certified in the use of a laser for traffic enforcement and accident reconstruction. Vella has been the senior officer on his patrol squad for the last six years.
Lieutenant Brian Dziomba was hired in August 2005. Since that time, he has shown exemplary leadership ability and has distinguished himself while serving in the patrol division as a detective and as a shift sergeant. Dziomba has constantly demonstrated dedication and professionalism.
Lieutenant Elvis Leung was hired in November 2005 and has served in the administrative division, patrol division and as the detective sergeant. As the senior sergeant in the detective bureau, Leung has assumed command of the bureau as needed.
Lieutenant Keith Saloom: Hired in November 2001, Saloom has shown exemplary leadership ability while serving in the patrol division and as the detective sergeant. Lieutenant Saloom has run the Megan’s Law registry and has been a key investigator with internal affairs.
Captain Griffin Banos was hired in October 2004. He earned a degree in the Administration of Justice from Thomas Edison State College. Captain Banos served in the patrol division as an officer and supervisor. He was assigned to the investigation division, working closely with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Task Force where he focused on apprehension prosecution and deterrence of crimes. He has been in command of the investigation division for the last four years. As head of this division, he has initiated programs focused on deterring crime and assisting in the apprehension, charging and prosecution of suspects.
Captain Leigh Ann Solomons joined the Monroe Township Police Force in January 2001. She graduated from The College of New Jersey with a degree in Psychology and a graduate degree in Human Services-Criminal Justice from Capella University. Solomons has been assigned to criminal investigation division, administration division and the patrol division, where she currently works. Lieutenant Solomons is a D.A.R.E. instructor, has completed an incident command course, has certifications in the Office of Emergency Management and FEMA and has taken several leadership courses.
