Speaking at the ceremony, Mayor Jimmy Davis thanked outgoing Police Chief Robert Geisler for his seven years of service as Chief. Referring to Geisler as “a great chief,” Mayor Davis wished Geisler and his family well as he begins his retirement from the department. Mayor Davis congratulated the promoted officers and their families. He noted that police officers run towards trouble, not away from it, so that their families pray that they will come home safely. Mayor Davis said that Deputy Chief Quinn works with “imagination” and “investigative knowledge,” and is “what an officer should be.” Addressing Chief Scerbo, Mayor Davis said, “Just be who you are,” and “I know you will do a great job.”
Public Safety Director Robert Kubert thanked former Chief Geisler for his thirty years of service in every rank of the Police Department. Director Kubert thanked Geisler for everything that he did for him, the Police Department, and Bayonne residents. Concerning Chief Scerbo, who is the son and brother of retired Jersey City officers, Director Kubert said, “I am glad he came to Bayonne,” where, Kubert said, Scerbo “excelled.” The Public Safety Director said that there has never been a need to correct or guide Scerbo during his career, “He just did it,” Kubert explained. Turning to the new sergeants, Director Kubert said that Chief Scerbo has provided “an example you would do well to follow.”
City Council Member At-Large Loyad Booker congratulated the promoted officers. He also congratulated their families, saying, “It’s your promotion as well as theirs.” Council Member Booker said that Bayonne Police Department is “one of the best in New Jersey” and on the East Coast.
Council Member At-Large Juan Perez recalled having been a neighbor of the Scerbos. He congratulated all of the promoted police officers, and said, “Your leadership skills will benefit the city of Bayonne.”
Former Chief Geisler said that Deputy Chief Quinn has always done his job “professionally and fairly.” He called Quinn “one of the fairest you will ever meet.” Concerning Chief Scerbo, Chief Geisler said that his successor “made everyone around him a better cop.” Geisler called Scerbo “a cop’s cop,” and remarked that “there is nothing he wouldn’t do” for the people he works with.
In his speech, Chief Scerbo said, “It is the greatest honor of my career to stand before you today as the 22nd Chief of the Bayonne Police Department. I am humbled by this responsibility and inspired by the trust that has been placed in me.” He congratulated Deputy Chief Quinn and said, “In every assignment, you have performed with excellence, showing a strong work ethic, professionalism, and commitment to this department.”
Chief Scerbo thanked his immediate predecessor, Chief Robert Geisler for having had “the fortitude to overcome unprecedented challenges,” “the vision to guide our department forward,” and “the empathy to connect with members of this department and the community we serve.”
Chief Scerbo said that his vision for the Police Department “rests on three interconnected threads: community policing, organizational excellence, and officer safety and wellness.”
He promised to “engage inclusively, listen respectfully, and ensure that every resident shares equally in the promise of safety.” He called for giving “special attention to our most vulnerable population – our seniors, our children, our neighbors with disabilities, and those living with mental illness.” Chief Scerbo pledged to “support” and “expand upon” the Police Department’s Community Outreach Unit and Community Oriented Policing Unit. He stressed that community policing “is a philosophy that runs throughout the entire Bayonne Police Department.” Chief Scerbo said, “Every officer, in every unit, shares the duty of building relationships, listening to concerns, and working hand in hand with our residents.”
Chief Scerbo announced that he would “continue” and “build upon” the department’s recent Ethics and Integrity training program for all police officers and recruits. He said that he has held discussions with Bayonne’s two police unions, the Superior Officers Association and the Police Benevolent Association, about “officer wellness.” Chief Scerbo said that, in conjunction wit the unions, “we will explore comprehensive wellness and safety strategies.” He promised to “prioritize mental health resources, physical wellness, and a culture of care within our department.”
Chief Scerbo pledged to the police officers under his command “to be in two places at once: to lead this department from the front, and to always have your back – as long as you are doing the right thing.”
Chief Joseph Scerbo began his law enforcement career in 1988 at the Hudson County Department of Corrections. In 1989, he transferred to the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, and in March 1990, he joined the Hudson County Police Department.
Chief Scerbo was appointed to the Bayonne Police Department on August 8, 1992. He rose through the ranks, being promoted to Sergeant in June 2000, Lieutenant in March 2005, Captain in February 2016, and Deputy Chief in August 2020.
A graduate of Hudson Catholic High School, Chief Scerbo attended New Jersey City University and is enrolled currently in Thomas Edison State University. Recently, Chief Scerbo attended the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Training.
During his career in the Bayonne Police Department, Chief Scerbo has worked in and supervised the Narcotics Unit, the Alcoholic Beverage Control and Gun Permits Unit, the Traffic Unit, the Investigative Division, and the Patrol Division. Chief Scerbo served as the Municipal Counter-Terrorism Coordinator before being assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. Chief Scerbo was also assigned to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigation Unit and Homicide Squad.
For over twenty years, Chief Scerbo has been an instructor at the Hudson County Public Safety Training Center and the Jersey City Police Academy.
Chief Scerbo is a member of the Bayonne Chapter of the NAACP.
Chief Scerbo has received three Commendations and ten Excellent Police Service Awards. He was one of the Knights of Columbus Police Officers of the Year in 2002.
Deputy Chief Andrew M. Quinn was appointed to the Bayonne Police Department on July 12, 1999. A graduate of Carteret High School, he went on to attend New Jersey City University. Over the course of his career, Deputy Chief Quinn has served in the Patrol Division, the Union-Essex Auto Theft Task Force, the Bureau of Special Investigations, ands Internal Affairs.
Deputy Chief Quinn was promoted to Sergeant in 2016, Lieutenant in 2020, Captain in 2023, and most recently to Deputy Chief on July 9, 2025. Deputy Chief Quinn has received four Commendations, four Excellent Police Service Awards, and four Meritorious Police Service Awards. In 2002, he was honored as a Knights of Columbus Officer of the Year.
Sergeant Kyle Davis was appointed to the Bayonne Police Department in 2004. He is a graduate of Bayonne High School. During his time with the department, Sergeant Davis has been assigned to the Patrol Division, Narcotics Unit, Hudson County Prosecutors Office, and the DEA. He is assigned currently to the Traffic Unit. He is a member of the Hudson County 200 Club and is the recipient of one Valor Award, three Commendations, ten Excellent Police Service Awards and one Meritorious Police Service Award.
In addition to Sergeant Davis’s service with the Bayonne Police Department, he also served in the Army National Guard from 2011 until his honorable discharge in 2022. During his time with the National Guard, Sergeant Davis served two deployments under Operation Enduring Freedom in 2016 and again in 2019, earning recognition for his dedication and sacrifice.
Sergeant Damon Galano was appointed to the Bayonne Police Department in 2001. He is a graduate of Marist High School and continued his education at Lincoln Technical Institute, earning a degree as an HVAC Technician. During his time with the department, Sergeant Galano has been assigned to the Patrol Division, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Licensing & Permits Unit, and is currently assigned to the Property & Evidence Unit. He is the recipient of one Commendation, three Excellent Police Service Awards, one Meritorious Police Service Award, and one Unit Citation.
Sergeant Deana Mendez was appointed to the Bayonne Police Department in 2001. She is a graduate of St. Dominic Academy and continued her education at New Jersey City University, where she majored in Criminal Justice. Sergeant Mendez has been assigned to the Patrol Division, the COPS in School Unit, and the DARE program. Currently, she is assigned as an instructor at the Hudson County Public Safety Training Center. Sergeant Mendez is the recipient of two Excellent Police Service Awards.
Sergeant Joseph McDonough was appointed to the Bayonne Police Department in 2014. He is a graduate of Port Richmond High School and continued his education at the College of Staten Island, where he studied Accounting. He is currently assigned to the Patrol Division. Sergeant McDonough is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, with which he served two deployments during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2007 to 2008 before being honorably discharged.
Sergeant Nicholas Lawson was appointed to the Bayonne Police Department in 2017. He is a graduate of Bayonne High School and continued his education at Montclair State University. Prior to his appointment with the Bayonne Police Department, Sergeant Lawson was a Hudson County Sheriff’s Officer. During his time with the Bayonne Police Department, Sergeant Lawson was assigned to the Patrol Division and is currently assigned to the Detective Bureau. He is the recipient of two Excellent Police Service Awards and was honored as the Bayonne Police Emerald Society’s Police Officer of the Year in 2024.
Sergeant Sean Crowley was appointed to the Bayonne Police Department in 2018. He is a graduate of St. Peter’s Prep and continued his education at Fordham University and Rutgers University, studying finance. During his time with the department, Sergeant Crowley has been assigned to the Patrol Division and is currently assigned to the Narcotics Unit. He is the recipient of ten Commendations, twelve Excellent Police Service Awards, and one Unit Citation. He was recognized as the Knights of Columbus Police Officer of the Year in 2022. In addition to his duties, Sergeant Crowley serves as the PBA Union State Delegate.
At the promotional ceremony, the music was provided by the Bayonne Police Department Pipes and Drums. The processional was led by the Bayonne Police Department Honor Guard. The invocation was offered by Rev. John Fencik of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church. The benediction was given by Rev. Dorothy Patterson of the Wallace Temple A.M.E. Zion Church.
