Basking Ridge's 1st Female Officer To Retire, Parade To Be Held

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards Township Police's first female officer Gina Loschiavo is retiring and to celebrate her 25 total years of service, the department is hosting a "walk-out" ceremony and parade on Tuesday at noon.

The "walk-out" will be held at the Bernards Township Police Headquarters at 1 Collyer Ln. Due to the coronavirus, police are limiting the outside gathering of well-wishers to 100 people, with police officers and staff having priority.

Other participants to include fire and EMS and other police departments’s will be asked to participate in a parade past headquarters.

Growing up Loschiavo of Raritan had always wanted to be a police officer and teach.

"Ever since I was a little girl I used to play detective and had my own private detective agency and loved to teach. I would teach my stuffed animals religion in my room in a classroom setting," Loschiavo said.

"It's hard to believe that 22 years has passed since Gina became the first female police officer to join the ranks of the Bernards Township Police Department. Gina came to us after serving as an officer with the Branchburg Police Department. In her time here, she has served proudly in a number of capacities, most notably as a DARE officer for many years. I receive comments to this day from former students who remember Gina as their DARE instructor in middle school and what a positive impact she has had on them," said Bernards Township Police Chief Michael Shimsky.

Loschiavo had previously served three years with the Branchburg Police before moving over to Bernards Township. Her retirement will be effective July 1.

Being the first woman on the force in Bernards Township "felt great" to Loschiavo.

"It was kind of an honor. I guess it's like being a trailblazer," Loschiavo said. "I had a role model growing up in Bridgewater with a female officer. I am hoping to be a role model for another lady who would be interested in being a police officer."

Loschiavo most currently serves as the School Resource Officer at William Annin Middle School.

"Whenever I visit there, it is abundantly evident the impact she has on the students who affectionately refer to her in the hallways as Officer 'G-Lo'," Shimsky said. "Gina's presence and daily interminable smile will be greatly missed. We will miss Gina and wish her, Frank, Paul and Carmela the absolute best wishes in retirement."

After her retirement on Tuesday, Loschiavo plans to spend more time with her family.

"I always knew when I hit 25 years... I would be done with my career and enjoy time with my family," Loschiavo said.

Loschiavo will be helping her daughter Carmella, 14, with virtual learning, spending time with her son Paul's Boy Scout troop, helping her husband (who is also a paramedic) run his DJ business and also continue teaching CCD at St. Bernards.

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