“SUPER-HIGH EXPECTATIONS:” Five new officers, chosen from an original pool of 800 candidates, joined the Princeton Police Department last month. They are (from left) Michael Miceli, James Eufemia, Ashley Gaylord, Ryan McDermott, and Adam Santos.

By Donald Gilpin

Five new officers, selected from an original pool of 800 candidates, were sworn in to the Princeton Police Department (PPD) last month by Mayor Liz Lempert and PPD Chief Nick Sutter.

From a wide range of educational, professional, and life-experience backgrounds, James Eufemia, Ashley Gaylord, Ryan McDermott, Michael Miceli, and Adam Santos will be probationary for one year before becoming full-fledged members of the department next fall. Ms. Gaylord is already certified by the Police Training Commission and will be assigned to a field training officer in the patrol division. The other four will attend Mercer County Police Academy.

“All come from extremely diverse backgrounds, a theme that we really cherish in the Police Department,” Mr. Sutter said. “All bring very different strengths. All will be able to relate to the community in a tremendous way and will be very effective. All are interested in our community policing philosophy and community service. That stood out.”

Mr. Eufemia, 25, from Hightstown and Mr. Miceli, 26, from New Milford both come to the PPD from the New York City Police Department. A Hightstown High School graduate, Mr. Eufemia attended Rowan University, and Mr. Miceli is a Ramapo College graduate.

Ms. Gaylord, 24, a graduate of Rutgers University and the Camden County Police Academy, comes to Princeton from the Delaware River Port Authority Police Department.

Mr. McDermott, 24, of Hamilton, a Nottingham High School graduate, currently attends Thomas Edison State University.

Mr. Santos, 25, from Hillsborough, is a graduate of Hillsborough High School and Rutgers University who joins the PPD from a position as a corrections officer.

Noting the department’s “super-high expectations” for these five new recruits, Mr. Sutter described them as strong educationally and strong in career accomplishments.

“The hiring process is designed to identify the highest-caliber officers,” he said. “They’re going to be faced with more complex issues today than we faced in the past. They are required to be much more capable and the job is much more complex than it was, even five years ago. We’re confident that they are up to the job.”