Hamburg hires new police officers

By Scott Baker

HAMBURG — The borough of Hamburg has hired two new police officers.

In front of family, friends and their new police brethren, Dana Black and Jason Tangorra were sworn in by borough clerk Doreen Schott at the Nov. 5 borough council meeting. This final step in the hiring process brings to an end a process that has been ongoing for four months, according to Hamburg Mayor Paul Marino.

Black, a 29-year-old former Marine from Parsippany, served for one year on another force before being laid off due to budget cutbacks. The first ever full-time female officer in Hamburg’s history, Black said she is “happy to be a part of the police department” and looks forward to acquainting herself with the borough and its residents.

Tangorra, a 30-year-old Butler resident, served with the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department before being laid off 18 months ago. “I’m just happy to get back to work,” Tangorra said, adding, “this seems like a really good group of guys.”

Civilian Police Director Wayne Yahm said he hopes to see the pair of new recruits patrolling by mid-December.

Mayor Marino said he is “looking forward to seeing them on the road,” as the borough’s police force has been understaffed for a few years due to an officer out on disability. Coupled with the August resignation of Sergeant Erik Aronson, the borough was having problems with officer scheduling — including the amount of overtime necessary to patrol the borough.

The new hires will bring Hamburg back to a full staff of seven for the first time in years, Marino said. This will not only improve the scheduling and overtime problems, he added, but will make for a greater police presence throughout the borough.