Aberdeen Hires Three New Police Officers, Bringing Force Up To 45

ABERDEEN, NJ — Aberdeen Police Department just added three new patrolmen, and promoted two veteran officers, in a ceremony May 13.

With these three latest additions, the Aberdeen Police Department now has 45 sworn officers. Over the last two years, the Township has hired seven new officers.

The officers were all sworn in by Mayor Fred Tagliarini with remarks from Aberdeen Police Chief Alan Geyer, who was appointed March 1 of this year when Chief Rick Derechailio retired.

The police chief was also formally sworn in at the ceremony.

In the two promotions, Sergeant Roger Peter was named lieutenant and Patrolman John Zeller was elevated to sergeant.

Peter is a 17-year veteran of the department who served on the Bayshore Narcotics Task Force, the Rapid Deployment Force, and was a firearms instructor for 15 years. In 2018, he was promoted to sergeant.

Zeller joined the department on January 1, 2012 and was assigned to the Traffic Division in 2017. Prior to joining the force, Zeller served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as an Air National Guardsman. Zeller served as PBA President from June 2019 until his appointment as sergeant.

The three newly hired officers are Christopher Vetter, Hakim Bryant, and Jose Veliz Jr., all assigned to the Patrol Division.

Vetter, 24, graduated from Matawan Regional High School. He earned an undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Kean University.

Bryant, 31, graduated from Ranchview High School in Texas. He earned a degree in culinary arts from Brookdale Community College.

Veliz Jr., 21, graduated from Matawan Regional High School and earned a degree in criminal justice from Brookdale Community College.

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