Two New Police Officers Sworn In At Town Hall

The Berkeley Township Police Department roster grew by two at noon today, when Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. swore in two new police officers.

"With these two, we have 70 sworn law enforcement officers," Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele said. "They're going to the Ocean County Police Academy on Thursday. They will graduate in February."

Sworn in were Michael Tanis and Daniel Williams.

Tanis, 33, is a lifelong township resident. He graduated from Central Regional High School in 1998 and is currently attending Ocean County College. He and his wife Janine have one child and another due in January.

Tanis served five years of active duty in the U.S. Army and four years in the Army Reserve as an M.P. He served two tours of duty, one in Iraq, the other in Afghanistan before returning home in May. He was a sergeant for the Army Civilian Police before leaving to come to Berkeley.

Williams, 26, is also a lifelong Berkeley resident. He graduated from Central Regional High School in 2004 and has attended classes at Kaplan University and criminal justice classes at Ocean County College.

Williams served in the U.S. Coast Guard for five years of active duty and was stationed in Boston. He served as a boatswains mate and a law enforcement boarding team member.  He received a Good Conduct Award in 2008 and a Commandant's Letter of Recommendation in 2010. He is currently a Coast Guard Reserve member stationed in Barnegat Light.

"They both have military backgrounds," DiMichele said.

The two men will have three to four months of training before being deployed in the patrol division, the chief said.