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Herline Valcin, 29, realized a 15-year-long dream Thursday when she was sworn into duty; becoming Asbury Park’s first female Haitian native to serve on its 91-member police force. The 1.4 square mile community is known for its sizeable Haitian population.

“I just wanted to give back to my community and to try to make a difference in someone’s life;  even if it’s just one person,” she said of the vocation. “I just want to help people.”

Valcin, the eldest of five children, became interested in the career path at age 14 after meeting a local female police officer.

“I was in middle school and I stopped a police officer,” she said. “I remember saying to her – are you the only one, can I join the police force.”

That officer told her as long as she kept out of trouble and finished school, she too could join the police force, she said.

“I remember thinking I could be a police officer but I never thought I could actually get to work here,” Valcin said. “If someone were to tell me – you will be offered a job in Asbury Park, I would never have believed that.”

Valcin, who came to the United State’s at age 9 with her family, attended Thurgood Elementary School and graduated from Asbury Park High School. She served three years as a special officer in the City’s traffic safety unit after graduating from Bloomfield College.

“Gene [Dello] is going to miss you,” Deputy Chief David Kelso told her during the ceremony, referring to her former direct supervisor. “He refers to you as the excellent employee.”

Kelso said Valcin was hired in December as a Class II officer but the City opted to bring on the force as a regular police officer, thereby skipping a rung on the promotional ladder. Kelso said he and Capt. Guy Thompson, who heads the administrative division, were the only two who knew the job had come available and that they would be offering the post to Valcin.

“We called her into the office but we didn’t tell her we were going to hire her as a regular officer,” Kelso said. “She sat out in the front office and she looked like she was nervous.”

Kelso said realizing Valcin supposed she was being summoned to his office for a reprimand rather than a well deserved promotion, the two men raced out to the lobby.

“We were like, oh my gosh, we have an employee that is an excellent employee but she is nervous because she thinks she is trouble,” Kelso said. “We both got up and ran out to the lobby to tell her no, no, it’s a good thing. You are actually going to be able to fulfill your dream in life.”

Kelso also credited Sgt. Michael Casey and Police Officer Joel Fiori for serving as her mentors.

“You have to get yourself the rest of the way,” Kelso told her. “They will be their to help you but you have a lot of work to do.”

Valcin was sworn into office before her family, friends, Mayor John Moor, Councilman Jesse Kendle, Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton and members of the police department, including her fellow parking enforcement team.

“I first met this young lady three years ago when she was wandering the hall saying, I want a job here and who do I have to talk to,” Clayton said. “I found out she wanted to be a police officer and I sent her in the right direction. The next thing I knew, she was being inducted as a special [officer].

“I just want to say congratulations for achieving your dream and I know you are going to be a great addition to this wonderful police department that we have.”

Valcin began her training at the Ocean County Police Academy on Friday. Her starting salary is $34,627 Thompson said.

Kelso told her, as he tells each of his newly hired officers, “When you get on the street, treat  people the way you want to be treated. You are going to be busy the next five month, but congratulations.”

[Feature photo shows from left: Capt. Guy Thompson, Sgt. Michael Casey, PO Herline Valcin, and Deputy Chief David Kelso]

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