Five military recruits were sworn in as are the newest addition to the Middletown Police Department during the August 20 Township Committee meeting.

“We are very fortunate and blessed to have such a great police department and tonight, we welcome new additions to our officiary police department here of Middletown,” said Mayor Anthony P. Fiore. 

Patrol Officer Thomas Hughes, 27, is a Middletown resident and a volunteer firefighter. He graduated from Marine Academy of Science and Technology. He served in the United States Marines and attained the rank of sergeant.

Hughes is a former Middletown Police Explorer and has served as a Special Crossing Guard for the department, said Chief Robert Oches.

Patrol Officer Scott Davis, 30, is a Port Monmouth resident and has served as a Middletown Police dispatcher since 2010. Davis graduated from Middletown High School North and is attending Brookdale Community College to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice. Davis is a veteran of the United States Marines and attained the rank of corporal.

Patrol Officer Kent Thornton, 27, is a Long Branch resident and has served in the United States Marine attaining the rank of corporal.

He graduated from Long Branch High School and graduated from New Jersey City University with a bachelor’s degree in National Security Studies. Thorton and his wife, Felecia have one young child.

Patrol Officer Ricardo Cruz, 31, is Manalapan resident and a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft. He served in the United States Coast Reserve and attended Cabrini College where he received a bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy.

Cruz has previously worked with troubled youth at the Children’s Psychiatric Center, Behavioral Healthcare of New Jersey.

Patrol Officer Andrew D. Siciliano, 26, is a Long Branch resident, who has served in the United States Marines and attained the rank as corporal. He is a graduate of Ocean Township High School.

In addition to swearing in new officers, the Department welcomed back Patrolman Daniel E. Benbrook, who previously resigned after experiencing a disabling injury.

Benbrook is a Port Monmouth resident who joined the force in 2000. He is a United States Army Veteran and has served as a military police officer.

Benbrook graduated from Upsala College with a degree in Criminal Justice. He has previously served on the Holmdel Police Department, the Bayshore Narcotics Task Force and the Bayshore Task Force Entry Team.

Once the officers complete their Police Academy, they will enter directly into the Middletown Police Department’s Field Training Program, Oches said. All new officers spend their first 12 weeks on Patrol with a Field Training Officer.