Franklin Lakes November 16, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 Zangara becomes newest member of police department by Frank J. McMahon After conducting an extensive search, the Franklin Lakes Borough Council appointed a new police officer at its last public meeting. The new police officer, William J Zangara, 24, was sworn in by Mayor Frank Bivona and Councilwoman Paulette Ramsey as Zangara’s mother held the Bible. After Zangara took the oath, Captain Joseph Seltenrich presented the new officer with his police badge. Seltenrich pointed out that Zangara was the number one candidate during the hiring process, which included 175 original applicants. Zangara reportedly ranked highly in every aspect of the evaluation process, from the initial interview with the police department administration, to a secondary interview involving members of the governing body, the physical and psychological examinations, and an extensive background check. “He rose to the top of 175 applicants and he excelled in every step of the process,” Seltenrich said. “We expect big things from him.” A resident of Highland Lakes, Zangara completed basic police training at the Passaic County Police Academy and graduated in December 2010. He was awarded a bachelor of arts & sciences, law and justice at Rowan University in May 2010, and he achieved emergency medical technician status in 2011. He was a public safety dispatcher in the Hardyston Township Police Department, where he received and processed 911 calls concerning crimes, fires, and medical emergencies, and performed other administrative duties and operated communication equipment. At Rowan, he was a senior student patrol officer where he worked side by side with university police and security on service calls. Zangara the wrestling “Rookie of the Year” in 2000- Captain Joseph Seltenrich, Officer William J. Zangara, Mayor Frank Bivona, and Councilwoman Paulette Ramsey. 01, and was named to the Dean’s List in the fall 2006, fall 2009, and the spring 2009 semesters. He was assistant platoon leader at the Passaic County Police Academy, where he also received a marksmanship award. Zangara has several certifications and has been a volunteer for various athletic and social activities in his hometown. He was a volunteer responder for the Vernon Township Ambulance Squad and for the Sussex County Community Emergency Response Team, and served as team leader for a church youth group. According to Seltenrich, Zangara’s appointment brings the department up to 21 police officers, two shy of the size of the police department in 2009. The Franklin Lakes Police Department currently consists of a director of public safety; an administrative assistant for records; a captain; a detective lieutenant; four sergeants; two detectives, one of whom is the department’s juvenile officer; 12 patrolmen, one of whom is the borough’s traffic safety officer; and four dispatchers.