Woodbridge Police Department
Appoints Six New Police Officers to Ranks
New Officers Take-Up Patrol Assignments 
WPD Officers (L-R) Stephen Zimmerman, Neil Garrett, Robert Vanco, Andrew Kotarsky, Khari Manzini and Samantha Siana.
Woodbridge – Mayor John E. McCormac today announced the appointment of six new police officers to the ranks of the Woodbridge Township Police Department (WPD). The officers completed the state-mandated six-month police training program at the Cape May County Police Training Academy and will take-up patrol assignments on the streets of Woodbridge Township. The appointments were approved after the recruits successfully completed an extensive testing and eligibility process overseen by the New Jersey Department of Personnel, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the Woodbridge Police Department.
“We are pleased to announce the appointment of six new police officers to the ranks of the Woodbridge Township Police Department,” Mayor McCormac said. “The public safety mission of the Woodbridge Police Department is our most important priority. As a result of our commitment to public safety, combined with the increased assignment of uniformed officers to street patrol, the Woodbridge Police Department continues to maintain police ranks at a maximum staffing level of more than 200 sworn officers effectively protecting public safety.”
Joining Mayor McCormac to announce the appointment of the new police officers were Police Director Robert Hubner, Deputy Police Director Joseph Nisky, Captain Scott Kuzma, Chief Law Enforcement Officer, Municipal Clerk John Mitch, Municipal Council President Cory Spillar, Council Vice-President Lizbeth DeJesus, Councilwoman Debbie Meehan, Councilwoman Nancy Drumm, Councilman Brian Small, members of the WPD Command Staff and WPD Officers, families and friends.
The six newly appointed WPD Patrol Officers are:
Police Officer Samantha T. Siana #665
Police Officer Samantha Siana, 23, is a life-long resident of Hopelawn. Police Officer Siana graduated from Woodbridge High School and attended Rutgers University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Sociology. Police Office Siana was employed as a Corrections Officer by the Middlesex County Department of Corrections prior to being hired by the Woodbridge Police Department.
Police Officer Khari S. Manzini #667
Police Officer Khari Manzini, 23, has been a resident of Woodbridge Township since 2011. Police Officer Manzini graduated from Woodbridge High School and is currently working towards his degree in Public and Nonprofit Administration at Rutgers University in Newark. Police Officer Manzini was a member of the Woodbridge Police Department Auxiliary since March 2014, where he held the rank of Sergeant prior to being hired by the Woodbridge Police Department.
Police Officer Andrew J. Kotarsky #669
Police Officer Andrew Kotarsky, 30, a resident of Colonia, graduated from Woodbridge High School. Police Officer Kotarsky was formerly employed by the Woodbridge Township Road Department and has worked for the Township since April 2015. Police Officer Kotarsky’s Grandfather was Steve Yuhasz and his Uncle was John Yuhasz - both were members of the Woodbridge Police Department.
Police Officer Robert W. Vanco #670
Police Officer Robert Vanco, 25, is a life-long resident of Colonia. Police Officer Vanco is a graduate of Bishop Ahr High School and stands as a graduate of Rowan University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Radio, Television and Movie Communications. Prior to being hired by the Woodbridge Police Department, Police Officer Vanco worked for News 12 New Jersey at Raritan Center.
Police Officer Neil E. Garrett #671
Police Officer Neil Garrett, 25, is a life-long resident of the Colonia section of Woodbridge Township. Police Officer Garrett graduated from Colonia High School and attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree with a Major in Criminal Justice and a Minor in Sociology. Police Officer Garrett was a member of the Woodbridge Police Auxiliary since June 2015 prior to being hired as a Woodbridge Township Police Officer.
Police Officer Stephen L. Zimmerman #680
Police Officer Stephen Zimmerman, 27, is a resident of Colonia. Police Officer Zimmerman graduated from Colonia High School and then attended Middlesex County College and Montclair State University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Police Officer Zimmerman previously served with the Springfield Township Police Department after graduation from the Essex County Public Safety Academy in December 2016.
