Belleville Police Have Never Promoted A Latina Cop – Until Now

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Barbara Bermudez has officially become the first Latina in the history of the Belleville Police Department to be promoted.

“It’s just one more door that’s opening for all of us,” she said, after being promoted to sergeant. “It’s an amazing accomplishment, and I’m so proud to be the first.”

Earlier in April, Bermudez’s family members helped to celebrate the milestone during a ceremony at Belleville Town Hall. They included her mother, her son, her husband, a corrections officer in Essex County, her sister, a police officer in Clifton, her cousin, a police officer in Newark, and her mother’s wife, a state corrections officer.

During the ceremony – which also included promotions for Capt. Frank Pignataro and Lt. William Washington – Bermudez took her oath, which represented a long-but-rewarding journey into the realm of law enforcement.

According to township officials, Bermudez worked as a teacher for 10 years until realizing that police work was her true calling.

“My heart – I want to help,” she said. “I want to be part of my community. I want to give 110 percent to everything that I do.”

Several local officials, including Mayor Michael Melham, police chief Mark Minichini, council members Steve Rovell and Vinny Cozzarelli, and township manager Anthony Iacono were on hand for the ceremony. But Bermudez’s history-making promotion resonated especially deeply with Councilwoman Naomy De Peña, who said the town’s new police sergeant has already proven she has what it takes to keep residents safe and secure.

“From one Latina who works hard for this town to another, I applaud your service and thank you for being a trailblazer in Belleville,” De Peña said.

Belleville isn’t the only law enforcement department in Essex County to celebrate a landmark milestone for one of its female officers in recent years.

In 2016, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office instated its first African American chief detective. Read More: Quovella Spruill Takes Over As Chief Detective In Essex County

And in 2017, the Cedar Grove Police Department promoted the first female detective in its 109-year history. Read More: Cedar Grove Welcomes First Female Detective

BELLEVILLE POLICE PROMOTIONS

During the April 12 swearing-in ceremony, Belleville officials also offered praise for the two other promotes, Frank Pignataro and William Washington.

The township offered some background about each officer in a news release.

For Washington, a member of the department’s SWAT team, he can trace his decision to dedicate his life to law enforcement just as he was about to graduate from Rutgers University, Belleville town officials said.

“I didn’t want to sit in an office,” said Washington, who has been a member of the police department since 2003. “I decided I would rather help people, protect and serve and enjoy being outside, running around.”

Washington said the best part of being a police officer is those moments when someone expresses true appreciation.

“When you see people on their worst day - you don’t recognize them, but they recognize you,” he said. “They come up to you and say, ‘I thank you for what you did for me that day.’ It meant a lot that you took the time out to speak to them or you helped them out with their situation. That’s the best part.”

For Pignataro, his rise to captain is a story of a “local kid done good,” officials said.

“It means a lot,” he said. “Belleville is my hometown. I was born and raised in Belleville. I went through the school system. I graduated in 1998 to come back to my hometown and have served in the police department. To rise to the rank of captain - sometimes I can’t believe that it’s actually happening, that I actually did it.”

Pignataro, who joined the Belleville Police Department in 2008, is the commander of the traffic and community policing unit, giving him many opportunities to meet residents, officials said.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Pignataro was also involved in outreach to Belleville’s schools.

“It’s just great to give back to a community that gave so much to me,” he said.

“I am very proud of all three officers who were promoted today,” police chief Minichini said. “They have a passion for serving and they truly exemplify what we are looking for in police in Belleville.”

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