Midland Park September 7, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 This month, Thomas Bedoe will become the newest member of the Midland Park Police Department. The 24year-old Wayne resident was chosen from a field of four candidates, although two withdrew from the running after securing posts in other communities. According to borough officials, Bedoe will be sworn in on Sept. 8 and will begin his new duties on Sept. 12. The new hire will bring the police department to a total of 14 members. Bedoe is a graduate of the Cape May County Police Academy, which he attended through the alternate route program. This program, which was suspended last year, allowed civilians to pay their own way through police academy training, rather than secure a job in a community that would pay for the course. Bedoe earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Rowan University and is currently working on his master’s in administrative science at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is a volunteer firefighter in his hometown. Under the borough’s current PBA contract, Bedoe will be paid $32,269. Midland Park Police Chief John Casson said Bedoe and his final competitor were both viable candidates. Once the council made the decision to hire Bedoe, Chief Casson said he chose to call the unsuccessful candidate first to deliver the news. Casson said he encouraged the other individual to apply in Midland Park again when another opening becomes available. “We’re looking forward to having (Bedoe’s) enthusiasm on the force and welcome him aboard,” said Coun- Police department poised to welcome Wayne resident cilman Bud O’Hagan, the governing body’s liaison to the police department. “We were very pleased with the field of candidates presented,” Midland Park Mayor Joseph Monahan told Villadom TIMES. “Thomas interviewed very well and, beyond his technical qualifications, he exhibited those traits -- understanding, patience and ‘level-headedness’ -- we felt were important to our community as well as the leadership qualities that will serve him and Midland Park well into the future.” Asked if the borough had sought candidates who already had police academy training, Mayor Monahan said, “Not exclusively, but the final field of candidates happened to have it.” Monahan also addressed the addition of a new police officer as it relates to Chief Casson’s impending retirement. “As we all know, Chief Casson’s mandatory retirement by mid-2012 is a given. As such, we’ve focused on putting existing staff in a better position as well as filling open rookie positions for that eventuality. Having the benefit of the recent, already budgeted new hires for a year or more in advance gaining experience allows us greater flexibility for deciding on how to satisfy Chief Casson’s vacancy when that sad day comes. We wish John well and can never thank him enough for his leadership and wisdom over the last four-plus decades,” the mayor said. Casson became police chief on Jan. 1, 2007. Before his promotion to head of the department, he had been serving as acting chief after Robert Klingen, the former police chief, took terminal leave in July of 2006. Casson joined the force in 1968 and doubled as the department’s detective on a part-time basis for a number of years until the position was made full-time in 1994. He continued to perform the detective’s duties while he was acting chief. Midland Park Christian Reformed Church, located at 183 Godwin Avenue, is seeking vendors and crafters for an event scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29. For more information about securing a booth, contact Sara Van Goor at Sarvg101@optonline.net. Vendors, crafters sought