Promotions for police and fire depts.

By Neil Schulman
Long Branch — Three Long Branch police officers and a firefighter were promoted, and a new fireman was sworn in at a ceremony at City Hall on Friday.
In the Long Branch Police Department, Michael McGlennon was promoted to Captain, and Douglas Gotfredsen Jr. and Joshua Bard were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. The Long Branch Fire Department swore in Alfred Guzzi Jr. as a lieutenant and welcomed David Phillips III as a new firefighter.

Public Safety Director Jason Roebuck said that he knew all these men well, and was glad to see them take their new positions. It can be a long and difficult process, he said, but each officer brings much experience with them.
Roebuck said McGlennon was “one of the hardest working guys here,” and was always “right on top of everything” when asked about what needed attention in the Long Branch Police Department.
Gotfredsen is continuing a family tradition, Roebuck said. “When I got hired back in 1995, his father was the one to go to,” taking care of new hirees.
This summer, anyone who was by the oceanfront saw the result of Bard’s supervision. “He did an outstanding job for us this summer – especially with us not having everything (the boardwalk) fixed up,” Roebuck said.
Guzzi is another person continuing family tradition. His father, Alfred Guzzi Sr., was Fire Chief in 1980.
While Phillips is new to the fire department, he’s not new to the city, Roebuck noted. He’s been a special officer and dispatcher for the Long Branch Police Department, and “I’m happy Dave has finally found his home here.”
Mayor Adam Schneider said that the police and firefighters – and many of the visiting dignitaries – brought a feeling of family to the place.
“It’s all of us working together to help people. That’s why we’re here; many generations of service to the city,” he said.

Michael McGlennon
McGlennon was born and raised in Long Branch, graduating from Long Branch High School, and attending Brookdale Community College and Monmouth University before joining the LBPD in 1993, assigned to the patrol division.
In 1997 he was assigned as a Detective with the Youth Services Bureau, and contributed to many youth based organizations and activities, such as DARE officer, Pop Warner Coach, and Director of the Police Athletic League. When he was promoted to Sergeant in 2002, he remained with the Youth Services as Bureau Supervisor.
In 2009, he was promoted to Lieutenant, and assigned to the patrol division. Since then, he has help positions as Platoon 2 Commander, Special Operations Commander and Assistant Patrol Commander.
He has received numerous awards and commendations over his career, including the Monmouth County 200 Club Valor Award in 1996, Policeman of the Year in 1996 and2000, and Monmouth County Juvenile Officer of the Year in 2002. This year, he was appointed Deputy Coordinator for the Long Branch Office of Emergency Management.

Douglas Gotfredsen Jr.
Gotfredsen was hired as a Class II special officer in August 1993, where he served for two years until he was hired as a Police Officer in 1995. He served in the Patrol Division for seven years as an EMT-D officer until January 2002, when he was transferred to Support Services Division. There, he assisted in the design and implementation of the department’s computer network.
In Nov. 2004, he was assigned to the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, where he participated in several high profile statewide operations targeting child predators.
In July 2005 he was assigned to the Detective Bureau Forensics Unit. In July 2006, he was assigned to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office ICAC Task Force to conduct proactive online investigations.
In April 2008, he was promoted to Sergeant, and serves as Det. Sgt. to the Youth Service Bureau from 2009 to 2012.
He has received awards and commendations from both the LBPD and NJ State Police, as well as VFW Policeman of the Year.

Joshua Bard
Bard graduated Long Branch High School in 1993, and attended the University of Vermont, where he graduated in 1997 with a double major in Criminal Justice and Political Science. In 2000, he graduated the NJ State Police Academy, and was assigned to the Long Branch Police Department’s Patrol Division.
During his career, he has been given many assignments, including Patrol, Special Events Coordinator, Field Training Officer, Street Crimes Unit, Detective Sergeant. Currently, he is supervisor of the Special Operations Unit.
Among his many awards and citations, Bard has received the Police Officer of the Year Award from both the Elks and VFW.

Alfred Guzzi Jr.
Guzzi joined the Long Branch Fire Department in 1984 and has been an active member ever since. He was originally hired as a temporary firefighter in 1995, and hired as a full-time Fireman for the UFD in 1996.
Guzzi completed an extensive list of training courses from local, state and national organizations, including NJ State Fire College, the National Safety Council, American Red Cross and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He has earned numerous certifications pertaining to firefighting, safety, water rescue, S.C.B.A. and fire aid.
Some of his commendations include the John F Kiely Golden Helmet Award in 1994, an Honorable Duty Award in 1995, a Valor Award for Lifesaving in 1998, a NYFD Appreciation Award for assistance on Sept. 11, 2001, and the Long Branch Exchange Club’s 2005 Firefighter of the year.
Guzzi’s family has a long history of firefighting. His father, Guzzi Sr. was a Fire Chief in 1980; his cousin, Lt. Armand Guzzi, retired last year, and several uncles and cousins have also served.

David Phillips
Phillips has been an active member of the Long Branch Fire Department since he joined in 2002, as well as a member of the West Long Branch Fire Dept. since 2003.
He has been an active member of the Long Branch Police Department since 2000, when he was hired as a Special Officer Class I. Months later, he was hired as a Dispatcher, and in 2005 was promoted to a Class II Officer. In addition, he is an EMT and Haz-Mat Technician.
During his years of service, Phillips has earned many certifications, including NJSP Certified TAC Officer, Police Training Commission MOI Instructor and American Heart Association CPR Instructor. Those qualifications enabled him to serve as a Training Officer for the Police Department.
Commendations include a Unit Citation for a train accident rescue, and two commendatory letters, one for assisting in the recovery of a firearm and controlled dangerous substance, and another assisting an out-of-town officer with a violent offender while off-duty.
He has also been a member of several special task forces, including MOCERT.