PARAMUS, N.J. — The Paramus Police Department has five new officers, including several with deep Bergen County ties and one who will now serve alongside his father.

“I’m proud to be your mayor, [and] proud that you guys are joining the Paramus Police Department,” Mayor DiPiazza said during the July 22 Paramus Mayor and Council meeting.

Joseph Vilca, Badge No. 499, began his law enforcement career with William Paterson University Police in 2023 and previously served with Ridgefield Police while remaining an active member of the Ridgefield Fire Department.

Anthony Liggo Jr., Badge No. 500, previously served with the Hackensack, Palisades Interstate Parkway and Englishtown police departments and now joins his father, Paramus Patrol Officer Anthony Liggo, on the force.

James Brazofsky, Badge No. 501, is a Park Ridge native who previously worked for the borough’s Department of Public Works and volunteered with the Park Ridge Police Reserve Unit.

William Ehrenberg, Badge No. 502, comes from a law enforcement family, with his father a retired NYPD and Port Authority police inspector and two uncles who previously served with Paramus Police.

Gina Alessio, Badge No. 503, a Paramus native, graduated from the Bergen County Police Academy in June after previously working at Stew Leonard’s and volunteering at Annunciation Roman Catholic Church.

The five officers all completed alternate-route police academy programs, with Brazofsky graduating from the Morristown County Police Academy and Ehrenberg and Alessio graduating from the Bergen County Police Academy.

Guidetti said bringing the new officers aboard is about more than simply adding manpower to the department.

“It’s an important ceremony because we are now taking new people into our police department,” Guidetti said. “We call it our family, and by adding to our force, it helps us to protect the public, which is great.”

DiPiazza also praised the officers for taking on the responsibility of serving Paramus and representing their families and the community.

The additions come as the department continues to build its ranks with officers bringing a combination of prior law enforcement experience, local connections and community service to the Paramus Police Department.