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Good evening.
My name is Shayna Kugler and I live at xxx xxxxx here in Saddle Brook.
I know how emotional I can be, especially here at the podium, and at the same time, knowing how important it was to me to clearly express my thoughts to all of you tonight. Therefore, I have written them out … which I will read from.
I am taking this opportunity to thank Mayor Karen Chamberlain, the Township Council members, Business Administrator Peter LoDico and Deputy Police Chief Robert White for the recent opportunity to be considered as a candidate for the position of police officer for the Township of Saddle Brook.
I also take this opportunity to congratulate the new selected police officers, Christopher Verost and Marc Buchak, and their families.
At the same time, I do want to express my equally sincere apologies to the residents and community of Saddle Brook for any conflict that may have resulted in the last couple of weeks.
Upon considering to attend tonight’s meeting and make these comments, I asked my father if he would be attending this meeting. He said, “No,” as he had prior plans with my mother.
I was going to ask my grandfather, but I knew he wouldn’t want me to come tonight. If I told him I was going and would be making comments, I think he would have locked me up in one of his caskets!
My main objective is to convey my personal and heartfelt gratitude in having the privilege to be considered to serve in such an honorable position as a police officer.
In 2004, when I just turned 18 years old and was in college, my father persuaded me (I think more like forced me) to take the state civil service test for police officer. I can remember saying, “Dad I don’t know if I want to be a police officer.”
His reply was “I didn’t want to either, but my father told me to take the test, too … and look where I am now!”
He went on to say: “Don’t be a fool, take the test, you have nothing to lose.” So I signed up and took the test in 2004 and scored a 95.43.
For the past 10 years whenever the civil service police exam was given, I was always eager to sign up and take the test but never persuaded or forced to anymore. The last test I took was in 2011 and I was very happy to receive a score of 99.39.
Over those 10 years, I have never even once received any notice from any police department across the state that they were looking to hire new police officers.
My father explained to me the lack of hiring new police officers was statewide and he also explained the veterans preference policy that military personnel be given first priority (which I agree should be). He went on to tell me that if it wasn’t meant to be, then at least I tried; and to this day, I still hold truth to those words.
It was just last month though, in June, that I received a notification from the NJ Civil Service Commission that I was an eligible candidate for the position of police officer for the Township of Saddle Brook. I was instructed to reply to the appointing authority, Mayor Karen Chamberlain. As fast as a heartbeat, the 10-year wait came to an immediate opportunity to get the chance of being a police officer.
My father, who obviously would have all the insider information and details of what to expect, basically told me I was an eligible candidate and that there are also others who would also be eligible candidates as well.
Asking him his thoughts on this endeavor of becoming a police officer, he said (and I quote): “You’d be crazy not to!”
But he more importantly told me to think hard and focus on what’s important, and that was: “Are you willing to enter an honorable and privileged profession as a public servant for the next 25 or more years and, at the same time, risk your life to protect and serve others, and even people you don’t even know?”
He told me the story about Fair Lawn Police Officer Mary Anne Collura, who he went to the police academy with in 1985 (I wasn’t even born yet). As some may know, in 2003 Officer Collura was tragically shot and killed while on duty by someone who was being chased by Clifton Police and ended up in Fair Lawn.
That story made this endeavor real, and I know I speak for all of us when I say [that] being a police officer is a very, very dangerous job.
I did a lot of soul-searching to reach the conclusion that I whole-heartedly wanted to protect and serve the township of Saddle Brook and follow in the footsteps of my father, who has been serving on the department for close to 30 years.
So I committed to the challenge and began the process to have the chance to be selected to serve our town as a police officer — a town I am born and raised in for my entire life and I am very proud of.
I do know the obstacles and those that may have come later in the process of becoming a police officer.
First of all, having a grandfather who served as mayor and as a town councilman for over 30 years, as well as a father who is serving nearly 30 years as a police officer, I know I would be looked at and judged every day. But I am very proud of my family and their service to this town.
I also share that same pride and service. I love this town. My family loves this town.
My family has always had a passion to serve and be a big part of this community, starting with my great-grandparents, who owned and operated a luncheonette called “Kugler’s Kozy Corner” in the 1950s. From what I was told, this was a place always welcoming and serving residents of our local community.
I would like to leave you with this personal thought. I know how important it is to have the very best people in positions, especially police officers. My father had told me not to expect anything in this hiring process, just to be myself and that if I was eligible and qualified, I may get the privilege and the honor of serving the town as a police officer (and as he quoted) “You’d be damn lucky!”
I was ranked number 3 and in a great position on the list of eligible candidates, but I also know there are equally or maybe even better qualified candidates [who] can be selected as well.
I personally know the other candidates and I truly hope that my presence on the list and/or any conflict that may have been generated in the selection of police officers for this town did not adversely affect their potential to be selected.
And if that is the case I sincerely feel terrible for those candidates and their families, and anyone else who can be affected from this situation.
This town deserves and should get the very best.
I will be taking the next civil service police test scheduled for the fall of this year. It will be my 5th test that I have taken over the last 10 years.
I just want to be treated as me, Shayna Kugler. I don’t want to be treated or judged as the grand-daughter of the former mayor or councilman, or the daughter of the police chief.
I want to make it on my own, on my own record …. I don’t ask for or need anyone’s help, nor do I need anyone’s obstacle, whether it be imagined or real.
Thank you for this opportunity to convey my personal expression of my sincere appreciation to each and every one of you, and to the residents of Saddle Brook for the privilege to be a candidate for the position as a police officer.
And may God continue to bless us all to support and guide our community and all of us in our personal and daily lives.
Thank you.
Shayna Kuger
July 11, 2013 Township of Saddle Brook Mayor & Council Meeting
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