The Montgomery Township Police Department welcomed three new police officers, including one who grew up in the township.
Police officers Piper Ford and Vanessa Hunter graduated from the Cape May County Police Academy on Jan. 10 and have begun their field training program. They have been assigned to patrol with veteran police officers, who will offer guidance to them.
Police officer Garrett Stratton was sworn into office as a probationary patrolman at the Montgomery Township Committee’s Dec. 19 meeting. He transferred to the department from the South Toms River Police Department.
Ford grew up in Montgomery Township and graduated from Montgomery High School in 2019. She earned an associate of arts degree in criminal justice from Mercer County Community College in 2021.
Ford enlisted in the New Jersey Army National Guard after high school graduation in 2019, and holds the rank of sergeant.
Hunter earned a degree in criminal justice with a concentration in policing and a minor in public service and administration in 2024.
She served an internship with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office’s Intelligence Unit in 2023. She worked in the major crimes unit and the crime scene laboratory.
Montgomery Township Police Chief Silvio Bet, who attended their graduation from the Cape May County Police Academy, said he was confident that Ford and Hunter would serve the community with courtesy, professionalism and respect.
Stratton earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Widener University in 2015.
Stratton graduated from the Ocean County Police Academy in 2018 and began his law enforcement career as a special law enforcement officer with the Seaside Park Police Department.
He worked for the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office and then for the South Toms River Police Department, prior to being hired by the Montgomery Township Police Department.
“Garrett brings valuable experience and training to our department,” Bet said. “His diversified experience, training and background in policing will be a great asset to the Montgomery Township Police Department and to our community.”
Police officer Garrett Stratton transferred to the Montgomery Police Department from the South Toms River Police Department.
Montgomery police officers Vanessa Hunter and Piper Ford, pictured with Police Chief Silvio Bet, successfully completed their training at the Cape May County Police Academy on Jan. 10.
