Ho-Ho-Kus September 21, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Santos becomes police department’s newest member by Jennifer Crusco Christopher Santos, a long-time dispatcher for the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department, has been sworn in as the department’s newest member. Santos took the oath of office at a special meeting of the Ho-Ho-Kus Council that was convened last week. The timing of the session allowed Santos to be sworn in just in time to begin his studies at the Passaic County Police Academy. Police Chief John Wanamaker explained that Santos has already missed the window to attend the Bergen County Law & Public Safety Institute in Mahwah, where classes have already begun. “We had to move quickly,” Ho-Ho-Kus Mayor Thomas Randall said of the decision to hire Santos. Sergeant Ed Freeman has already announced his intention to retire, and plans to leave the department on March 1, 2012. Santos is due to graduate from his course in Passaic County on March 2, just in time to replace Freeman. Santos has been a dispatcher for the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department for six years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Santos and his wife Holly have two daugh- Christopher Santos is pictured (third from left) with daughter Haley James, wife Holly, grandmother Janice Bruno, younger daughter Brynn, brother-in-law J.J. Tedesco, father-in-law Jemes Tedesco, and family friend Officer Anthony Balestrieri. Christopher Santos (left) is congratulated by Police Chief John Wanamaker. ters. They reside in Paramus. Chief Wanamaker described Santos as a hard worker and a loyal employee. “He had great recommendations, and everyone thinks highly of him,” the chief added. Wanamaker said seven people had been interviewed for the post, and Santos quickly rose to the top of the list. “We’re pleased,” Mayor Randall said, noting that Santos already has a positive track record within the department. “We feel very good about bringing him on board.” Asked about the possibility about hiring an additional officer for the police department, Mayor Randall added that another officer is not in the budget, but said the borough would continue to look at the staffing issue in terms of finance and public safety. Resident Gary Tyler recently urged the Ho-Ho-Kus Council to hire some additional police officers to aid the borough’s department. At present, the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department is down two members who were not replaced after they retired, and recently lost two additional officers who have medical issues. The department, which has had 16 officers, is down to 14 officers, and is currently running with just 12. In order to keep the department running efficiently, Wanamaker, his lieutenant, and the detective have been covering shifts.