Ho-Ho-Kus December 19, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 9 Promotions requested as Freeman leaves department by Jennifer Crusco Ho-Ho-Kus Police Chief John Wanamaker has requested several departmental promotions following the recent retirement of Sergeant Ed Freeman. The chief is also looking ahead to 2013, when additional department members will be eligible to retire. “I have asked for two promotions to sergeant and asked for an officer to be put in the January class (at the Law & Public Safety Institute), due to upcoming retirements. There could be two next year. We need to plan and get things moving,” Wanamaker told Villadom TIMES. The chief noted that the department currently has four squads, two of which are now without a sergeant at the helm. The requested promotions of two patrol officers to sergeants’ posts would allow all four squads to have a sergeant in charge. Wanamaker indicated that he is also seeking the promotions of Lieutenant Michael Pattman to the captain’s post, and the promotion of Sergeant Chris Minchin to the lieutenant’s post. All of these requested police promotions would have to be discussed and approved by the borough council. Originally from Teaneck, Sergeant Freeman served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He joined the Wanaque Reservoir Police in 1981. Three years later, he was hired by the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department. He was promoted to sergeant in January of 2002. While serving as a Ho-Ho-Kus police officer, Freeman earned three Life Saving Medals, including two for performing CPR and one for using the Heimlich maneuver to help someone who was choking. He also received the Apprehension Award for his efforts in a 1986 armed robbery at a business in Upper Saddle River. “Ed and I came on at almost the exact same time,” Chief Wanamaker said of Freeman. “He is an excellent police officer and an excellent sergeant. He is a good person and also a good friend. I wish him the best in the next phase of his life.” In anticipation of Freeman’s retirement, the borough council decided earlier this year to send dispatcher Brian Dench to the Law & Public Safety Institute. Dench had been dispatching for the police department since 2008, and began his six-month course at the institute in July. Dench’s family has resided in the borough for four generations. He is a 2004 graduate of Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale. He attended Ramapo College, and subsequently began dispatching for Ho-Ho-Kus. This life-long borough resident joined the volunteer fire department in 2002 at the age of 16, continuing the family tradition started by his grandfather and followed by his father and brother. Dench’s brother Timothy has served in Iraq and Afghanistan and is a Port Authority police officer. Freeman’s last day of work was Nov. 30, so the department was poised for a smooth change of personnel. Wanamaker said Dench is due to graduate on Dec. 21 and will begin riding with a train officer shortly thereafter. Emmanuel Asks... (continued from page 6) by and meet with us, take a look at our pantry, and see what ECF is all about. Call us at (201) 612-8118 before you stop by. Please do not leave items at the center without checking with us first. Our storage space is limited. The Northern Regional Center is located at 174 Paterson Avenue in Midland Park. Visit us on the web at www. emmanuelcancer.org. As always, thank you for helping the children and their families!