Bloomingdale's Newest Officer Feels at Home

New police officer Ptl. Kevin Peirsel had never been to before accepting the position with the , but he has fallen in love with the borough. So much so that he said in his first week of work, he arrived an hour-and-a-half early each day.

The 28-year-old Morris Township native was and began work the following day. His first arrest with Bloomingdale was Wednesday, when he and Det. Sgt. Steve Caputo outside the Waterfall Village apartment complex.

Peirsel said he already feels like he fits in perfectly with the other officers and is eager to check out the borough. In particular, Peirsel has taken interest in the Marine Corps. recruiting office in Bloomingdale, as he served in the Marine Corps. from 2002 through 2006 as an aviation electrician. Peirsel spent one year stationed in Iwakuni, Japan.

"It fit my lifestyle perfectly, " he said, explaining that the values of the Marine Corps., including structured discipline, having to maintain optimal physical health and good physical presntation, are important to him. Peirsel, who said that one of the reasons for joining the Marine Corps. was the 9/11 attacks, said similar values are incorporated into a police officer's job.

Peirsel spent five months at the police academy before graduating with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in May from the American Military University in Virginia and soon hopes to obtain his master's degree, possibly at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Since then, he has been interviewing with police departments and hoping to land a job. He does have experience dispatching, however, with the Morris Plains Police Department and the Morris County Communications Center.

The new officer said he would love to work with the community's children through community policing, possibly through D.A.R.E, at some point in his career.

"I want to get a little bit of everything," he said.

He also said, so far, Bloomingdale has created a good impression on him. 

"I love this town," he said. "I love how the police treat everybody respectfully and they are very respectful to us."

In his free time, Peirsel plays slow-pitch softball in a men's league near his home in Morristown and enjoys rooting for the Giants and Yankees.