Leo DiPietro was promoted to captain in the township police department at a ceremony in council chambers on Sept. 10.
Joe Rowson was promoted to lieutenant, and Matt Laudenslager (below) moved up to sergeant.
It was a joyous occasion inside Washington Township council chambers on Sept. 10, as three “well-deserved” police promotions were presented.
Leo DiPietro was promoted to captain, Joe Rowson to lieutenant and Matt Laudenslager to sergeant. As they stood by their families, Mayor Anthony Dellapia delivered the oaths of office at a township council meeting.
“These men have demonstrated remarkable dedication, professionalism and leadership throughout their careers,” Police Chief Patrick Gurcsik said at the meeting. “Their hard work and commitment to the mission of the Washington Township police make them among the very best in their field.
“I also want to take a moment to recognize and thank their families,” he added. “Behind every promotion stands the quiet strength of loved ones who sacrifice so much with patience and understanding when duty calls. Families also give officers the time and support to study and prepare and test for these promotions.
“Without commitment from home, their success right here tonight would not be possible.”
Also at the meeting, township officials recognized Library Card Sign-Up Month through a proclamation and encouraged everyone to sign up for their own card.
The Mary E. Heggan Free Public Library is raffling off eight tickets to the Philadelphia Phillies game against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. Four tickets will go to a new cardholder and four tickets will go to an existing cardholder.
“Libraries play a crucial role in the education development of children, from story time for preschoolers to college and career planning for high schoolers, fostering literacy and for the love of reading,” Council Vice President Donald Brown read from the proclamation.
“Libraries are inclusive spaces for all backgrounds to learn together and engage with one another across cultural, ethnic, generational and economic lines, strengthening the social fabric of the communities they serve.”
The gold ribbons worn by township officials at the meeting recognized September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Councilman Joseph Harris read from a proclamation on the national and local initiative.
Rich Nardiello has been an advocate for the cause and has brought smiles to children diagnosed with cancer. In January, he worked with members of the township police and fire departments to organize a parade for a Hurffville Elementary School student.
“It was 12 degrees,” Nardiello recalled. “The first responders showed up big time and made this little boy’s day very special.”
Statistics today are that one in 257 children under age 18 are diagnosed with cancer.
“I made this poster four years ago and I keep on scratching out the number that (went) from 300 to 257,” Nardiello noted. “Forty-five kids a day are diagnosed with childhood cancer. I can come up here and list the names just in Washington Township … They are in every school. They are in Bells, Hurffville, the high school.
“I want folks to be aware.”
