Watchung introduces community to new police chief, officer

WATCHUNG – Watchung Mayor Keith Balla introduced the community to the borough’s new police chief and one of its new officers in an online video.The mayor was joined by Chief Andrew Hart and Officer Casey Breese, both of whom were sworn in on May 20, for a video posted on the borough’s Vimeo page at https://vimeo.com/569013119.A 24-year veteran of the force, Hart is a lifelong resident of the area. He grew up and resides in North Plainfield. The chief said it is an exciting time for the department, and a period of transition as the department recently welcomed four new officers in Breese, Darren Calleo, Michael Bahadourian and Alyssa Krum.”We’re in a transition with some younger officers and some newer faces,” he said, “so it’s exciting. It’s giving the department some new blood, which is always a good thing, I believe.”State law enforcement in general is also in a period of transition, Hart noted, with new policies being implemented. One such change is the recent purchase of body cameras to be worn by each member of the department.”The changes are exciting and it’s going to be challenging, but we look forward to it as a department,” he said.Asked why she…
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