By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Steven Conte was influenced by his father, a retired New York City patrolman, to become a police officer himself.
Nicholas Giordano, on the other hand, had no one in his family who was in law enforcement. He simply took a summer job as a cop and decided to make it his full-time career.
Both Conte and Giordano took the next step in their distinguished careers with the Sea Isle City Police Department on Monday during a promotion ceremony that included their wives and children proudly standing by their side when they were sworn in by Mayor Leonard Desiderio.
Conte was promoted from lieutenant to captain and Giordano was promoted from detective to sergeant. Both of them have climbed the ranks with the police department since starting their careers as summer officers, a stepping stone for full-time employment.
“As you know, in today’s world being a police officer is the most difficult job,” Desiderio told the audience members who attended the promotion ceremony at City Hall.
He said Conte and Giordano reflected the professionalism and dedication of the men and women on Sea Isle’s Police Department, which he called “the best in New Jersey.”
“They are a special group of men and women and I am proud of them,” Desiderio said just before administering the oath of office to both officers.
When Conte was sworn in, his 8-year-old daughter, Genevieve, held the Bible and his wife, Maureen, smiled broadly while standing at his side. His parents, Vince and Jo Conte, sat in the front row of the audience.
“This is an honor and I’m humbled to accept,” he said. “I’m going to strive to work hard for you.”
In a nod to Police Chief Anthony Garreffi and his fellow officers, he said Sea Isle has “a super and unbelievable police department.”
He also took time to thank members of the community, city officials and a number of police chiefs from other towns for attending the ceremony.
Conte saved his fondest remarks for his family, noting how much they have shaped his life.
“I didn’t need to read about superheroes because I grew up with one,” he said to his father, alluding to his career as a former New York City police officer.
Looking at his mother, he said that he “lived with a saint” while growing up.
He called his daughter, Genevieve, the “brightest light in my life.”
As for his wife, Maureen, Conte said she “leads the way for me.”
Conte started his law enforcement career as a summer officer in 2002. He became a full-time officer in Sea Isle in 2005.
In an interview after the ceremony, he said his father’s career as a police officer “1,000 percent” influenced him to become a cop himself.
Giordano, meanwhile, was joined by his wife, Shannon, and their children, Gracelynn, 9, Giovanni, 7, and Vincenzo, 6, when he was sworn in by Desiderio. His children held the Bible. The mayor exchanged high-fives with the smiling kids afterward.
“I feel I truly work for an amazing city,” Giordano told the audience.
He thanked his parents, Vincent and Patricia Giordano, who were sitting in the audience, for having such a huge influence on his life.
“My parents, the way you raised me is why I’m here today,” he said.
He drew laughs from the audience when he affectionately told his wife, Shannon, and their three children, “You keep me on my toes.”
Giordano said in an interview that his police career began when he took a job in Sea Isle as a summer cop and “never left.” He started as a summer officer in 2006 and became a full-time member of the department in 2009.
Sea Isle’s police department currently has 22 full-time officers and one more is on the way after graduating from the police training academy.
Chief Anthony Garreffi told the audience that the department is entering an “exciting time” that will include more promotions.
“Like they said, it’s a great city to work for,” Garreffi said while echoing Conte and Giordano’s remarks. “I’m proud to lead the men and women of the Sea Isle Police Department.”
