Michael Reo went to the Hackensack Civic Center behind City Hall in the first week of March looking for information. He was also looking for a job.
"I’m a resident here in Hackensack, and I’m looking to become a full-time police officer," said Reo, 19, a student at Bergen Community College. "My family owns a deli in town, and it benefits both myself and the city to sign up."
A diverse group of more than 80 potential police officers from Hackensack and surrounding communities packed the Civic Center as part of an applicant information night sponsored by the Hackensack Police Department (HPD). The HPD promoted the informational event as a way to prepare a new generation of police officers for this year’s New Jersey Department of Personnel Law Enforcement Examination. Participants in the event seemed eager for both public service and personal reasons to sign up to do a demanding but necessary job.
Hackensack Police Department Capt. Tomas Padilla is a 20-year veteran of the city police department. Born in Colombia, he came to America when he was 5 years old, eventually finding his way on to the force. He spoke from experience about how the HPD is continually trying to reflect the diverse demographics of the city in its police officer recruitment pool.
"We have large Colombian, Dominican and Ecuadorian populations here in Hackensack," said Padilla, noting that the applicant information night was attended by a mix of Hispanic, white, African-American and Asian-American potential police officers. "We were very happy to see that diversity. This is one of our goals."
"At the time when I took the police test, you really only found out about it through word of mouth," Padilla continued. "I happened to work with a couple of police officers who were working part-time at Sears, so they told me about the test. I think that I was the second Latino to take the test. What we are doing now is one of the things that (HPD Police) Chief (Charles "Ken") Zisa began when he took over. We need to spread the word about the exam. It’s the right thing to do. We’re really reaching out."
For Hackensack resident and current U.S. Postal Service employee Justin Henry, the decision to put down his letter carrier bag and put on a HPD uniform is based on a sense of service to his hometown.
"It makes me feel better to know that I’m making a difference," said Henry, 22. "It’s always been my passion to help people. I really never figured what other way to do that but to be a cop, because then I can interact with kids and try to tell them the do’s and don’ts in life, and what to look forward to. It’s just more hands on."
Henry knows that he may have to get his hands dirty in what at times can be a difficult and dangerous job. But Henry has made up his mind, in part because he already has backup help at home.
"Even though Hackensack is not a real high crime area compared to other places, my wife knows that the job is dangerous and that at any time, anything can happen," he said. "But she loves me, and she supports me no matter what. I’m willing to take the risk. I want to be out there with the people that I grew up with."
Rebecca Canilao now works for a customer service agency in Clifton. While her present job is admittedly different from being a police officer, Canilao, a Hackensack resident, is applying to the HPD with the belief that there are some notable occupational similarities.
"As a police officer, you are relating to customers, too," said Canilao, 30. "You have to have people skills because you are dealing directly with the public. You have to go with the flow and listen to what people have to say."
Canilao has lived in Hackensack for about four years with her husband and her 4-year-old daughter. Despite the potential danger that is part of her possible new career path, Canilao still wants to walk down this new road. As she takes the first steps toward becoming a city police officer, she believes that she is not making that walk alone.
"My husband is totally for it. He believes as I do that as a bilingual woman, I can really make a difference in my city," said Canilao, whose parents are Peruvian.
"My ability to speak Spanish fluently will be a great asset here in Hackensack. I want to be able to serve my community as well as I can."
At the end of the police officer applicant information night, Michael Reo got ready to go home so he could get up in the morning to help serve prosciutto and mozzarella sandwiches to hungry customers at his family’s deli on South State Street. Before he left, Reo talked about how he was definitely hungry to do something else for people as soon as possible.
"I want to be out there supporting the community as a police officer and have a good career," he said. "For me, it’s a win-win job."
For additional information about applying to take the Hackensack Police Department entrance examination, contact HPD Captain Tomas Padilla at 201-646-7730 or e-mail at examinfo@hackensackpd.org.
