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The Asbury Park Police Department instituted a number of promotions and new hires Friday morning.

Among them are Lt. Amir Bercovicz. Hired in 1995, Bercovicz served in various units, including the Street Crimes Unit and the Detective Bureau, Deputy Chief David Kelso said. Bercovicz will be assigned as the day shift Watch Commander.

Newly promoted Sgt Sean DeShader is now assigned as a supervisor in the Patrol Division, Kelso said. Hired in 2008, DeShader has served in the Street Crimes Unit and the Detective Bureau.

Newly hired Ryan Champouillon, 22, of Asbury Park joins the department as a patrol officer. Champouillon’s brother Robert is also a member of the department, Kelso said.

Champouillon, who was hired in May as a Class I, will attend a full 22-week police academy training at the Ocean County Police Academy.  Upon graduation he will enter the field training program, Kelso said.

New hire Samuel P. Griffeth, 23, of Asbury park joined the department in August, Kelso said. The Passaic County Police Academy 2015 graduate received his class II SLEO PTC Certificate and went on to work for the Demarest Police Department before joining the Asbury Park Police Department. Griffeth will attend the Monmouth County Police Academy waiver class, which is approximately three weeks long, Kelso said. He will then enter the field training program.

Champouillon and Griffeth will earn $35,549 annual salary. The two new hires bring the department’s force up to 91, Kelso said.

In related news, the Asbury Park Police Department released its Uniform Crime Report [UCR] data, which outlines an 11% decrease in reported crimes from January through August 2018.

The UCR program, compiled by the FBI, is a nationwide effort to create uniform crime statistics. The decrease in the crime rate resulted in a lowered Crime Index rate for Asbury Park, decreasing from 624 to 583. The Crime Index is a measurement to standardize crime per municipality.

“The 11 percent drop in the City’s crime rate is thanks to the dedication and hard work of the officers of the Asbury Park Police Department,” Kelso said. “And, it’s a true team effort, from support of the Mayor and Council, who have provided us with the resources and manpower necessary to accomplish this goal, to the assistance we receive from our law enforcement partners including those at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the DEA, the US Marshalls, the NJ State Police and surrounding local agencies.”

The Asbury Park Police Department received its accreditation from the NJ State Association of Chiefs of Police in January, demonstrating a commitment to utilizing best practices and delivering the best possible service to city residents, officials said.

“This is a continued and outstanding effort by APPD,” Mayor John Moor said. “Their success is no doubt due to the efforts they make with community outreach and keeping good relations throughout the city. Their participation in community events throughout the year helps keep them visible, educates the public on safety, and encourages open dialogue.”

Kelso said the Department continues to encourage residents and visitors to be vigilant in order to avoid being a victim of crime. The department is warning the public to keep cars and bikes locked, keep valuables out of plain sight, register bikes and surveillance cameras, and continue to report suspicious activity.

For emergency updates from the City of Asbury Park, sign up for Nixle by texting 07712 to 888777 or go to www.nixle.com to sign up and manage an account.

For APPD Bicycle Registration, visit https://bit.ly/2MvR7dI.

For APPD Surveillance Camera Registration, visit https://bit.ly/2xh4VDA.

For more information on the Asbury Park Police Department, visit cityofasburypark.com/police. And, for more information on the City of Asbury Park, visit cityofasburypark.com.

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