Saint Peter’s College Senior Becomes Youngest Cop In Northvale History

Jersey City,NJ –Ed McDermott (Northvale,NJ), a senior at Saint Peter’s College, was recently sworn in as the youngest police officer in Northvale, NJ history. McDermott, 20, has the title of probationary officer until completing his police academy training which begins on Friday. McDermott will graduate from the College in May having completed his Criminal Justice degree work in three years. McDermott credits his hiring to the education he has received at Saint Peter’s. “The Criminal Justice program here is incredible,” McDermott said. “I have spoken to a lot of college students who take Criminal Justice at other schools, and I’ve been amazed as to how few of them have had professors who actually worked in law enforcement. All of the staff at Saint Peter’s either work now in the field, along with teaching, or remain active as consultants in law enforcement.” McDermott singled out program chair Dr. Hank Brightman for helping him land the position in Northvale. “Hank is amazing,” McDermott said. “He is always there to guide you, advise you, and give you the skills necessary to succeed. I remember back to the week before I turned 19, I took the police test in Englewood Cliffs. I had no intention of taking it, but Hank convinced me to do it as a practice run. That was a great move. In the classroom, he gets us really hands on experience. It’s easy to talk about things, like search warrants, but Hank goes the extra step and actually brings one in. He takes us as far as he possibly can.” Academic preparation for a law enforcement career is just one way Brightman assists his students. “Hank started the Big Dog Running Team at Saint Peter’s for Criminal Justice majors,” McDermott said. “Hank understands that the physical part of the career is just as important as the mental training and knowledge base. It is easy to say that you have to be physically fit, but the fact that your college teacher is out there busting his butt with us, proves that it is important. He is right there pushing each of us.” McDermott is looking forward to his career as a police officer. “Northvale and Rockleigh, which the department also patrols, are small towns,” McDermott said. “I’ll be trained to do everything, but this job is more on the community policing side which I wanted. I’ve always been fascinated with how law enforcement can make a town better and keep people safe, rather than the stereotypical NYC PD type effort of fighting crime day-in-and-day out. I’m from Northvale, and I love the town, and the fact that I’m going to be paid to help keep it a great town is incredible.” His professor believes McDermott will be great in his new job. “Ed represents the new breed of American police officer,” Dr. Brightman said. “As an active member of the Saint Peter’s College Criminal Justice Running Club and President our Delta Alpha Chapter of the Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society, he possesses both the physical prowess and academic accumen necessary to serve on the front lines in the War on Terrorism. In selecting Ed for this position, Northvale has wisely chosen someone who both understands and lives by the Saint Peter’s philosophy of excellence in service to others.” McDermott, who is past president of Alpha Phi Sigma, the College’s Criminal Justice Honor Society, will become the third in his family to graduate from Saint Peter’s. His brother John (’03), sister Mary (’01) both graduated from the College, along with future brother-in-law Christian Fierabend (’01) who is now serving with the United States military in Iraq. Saint Peter’s College is the Jesuit College of New Jersey. Founded in 1872, Saint Peter’s has an enrollment of more than 3,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The main campus is located in Jersey Cityand a branch campus, specializing in adult education, is located in Englewood Cliffs. Saint Peter’s also offers classes in downtown Jersey City near the waterfront financial district and in South Amboy.