Dedicated to service: Township honors retiring officers

Township council honored retiring officers and welcomed new ones – as well as a new police chief – at a meeting earlier this month.

State Assemblywoman Carol Murphy swore in the following: Police Chief Timothy Hudnall, Deputy Chief Ryan Orange, captains Damiano Depinto and Eric Weil, Lt. Thomas Corsanico, and sergeants Joshua Treusch and Kyle Gardner.

Commendations were presented to the recently retired chief, Judy Lynn Schiavone, as well as officers Albert Haines and David Sweely. Each provided 25 years of service to Mount Laurel.

Mayor Fozia Janjua read a proclamation highlighting some of Schiavone’s career history. She was hired in 1999 after training at the New Jersey State Police Academy in Sea Girt and graduated from the 200 Municipal Police Class. Schiavone was originally assigned to the township department’s operations division, and over time, served as a field training and undercover officer; traffic reconstructionist; and hostage negotiator for the county SWAT team.

She was promoted to sergeant in 2008 and to lieutenant four years later. During that time, Schiavone was variously assigned to the Office of Professional Standards, Criminal Investigations and the patrol division as a commander. She was promoted to deputy chief in 2018 and took the top job in January of last year.

Among Schiavone’s accomplishments was starting the department’s junior police and citizens’ academies and attending a Mid-Atlantic Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar and the FBI National Academy. Her awards include officer of the year in 2005 and supervisor of the year in 2011. Last year, she was named Burlington County’s outstanding woman of the year.

“Schiavone served the Mount Laurel community in an exemplary manner and is to be commended for her dedication to duty, for her loyal and faithful service to the residents of the township,” Janjua read from the council proclamation.

“Council, on behalf of all its citizenry, do hereby commend Schiavone on her 25 years of service to the Mount Laurel community and wish her well on her retirement.”

Deputy Mayor Nikitas Moustakas read a proclamation commending Haines for his police service. He joined the department in 1999 and graduated from the New Jersey State Police Municipal Academy Class. He has served in the patrol division throughout his tenure.

Haines’ leadership and expertise were key to his time as a field training officer, where he imparted knowledge and mentored officers. He was also trained in advanced-level accident investigation methods.

“He demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication in this practice, providing support to the traffic unit and contributing significantly to the resolution of numerous investigations over the years,” Moustakas read from the proclamation.

Councilman Stephen Steglik then cited highlights from Sweely’s career in law enforcement. He joined the township police department in 1999 – bringing with him experience from the Burlington County Sheriff’s Office – and served in various capacities, starting with the patrol division, where he was commited to public safety.

Sweely’s leadership and mentoring came with his role as a field training officer beginning in 2004. He also served in the community policing unit to foster positive relationships and improve trust between law enforcement and residents. Sweely’s expertise and dedication were recognized when he was selected to join the Mount Laurel SWAT team in 2006.

Sweely also took on the roles of school resource officer and juvenile officer in 2018 and played a key role in ensuring the safety and well-being of youth by emphasizing their positive interactions with the police.

“Sweely dedicated 25 years of exemplary service to the Mount Laurel police department, demonstrating unwavering commitment, professionalism and a deep sense of duty to protect and serve the community,” the proclamation read.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 19, at 750 Centerton Road.