East Brunswick PD Promotes Four Veteran Officers

The East Brunswick Department of Public Safety recently promoted four of its officers to fill vacancies left by retired superior officers. Cpt. Ralph Fitzgerald, Lt. Eric Raps, Lt. Alex Todoroff and Sgt. Michael Fitzgerald will be promoted to their respective positions.

Fitzgerald, a 27 year veteran of the police department, has been promoted to the rank of Captain. Fitzgerald began his police career as a Patrolman with the Rutgers University Police Department following his graduation from the Middlesex County Police Academy in 1982. He was then hired by the East Brunswick Police Department in 1986 as a Patrolman. In 1997, Fitzgerald was promoted to Sergeant and in 1998 was reassigned to the Traffic Division as the Assistant Traffic Commander. In 2000, he was promoted to Lieutenant and became a Patrol Watch Commander. In 2011, Fitzgerald was then transferred to the Special Operations Section (formerly known as the Traffic Division) as the Commander.

During his career, Fitzgerald has received numerous Letters of Commendation.

He attended Rutgers University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Certificate in Criminal Justice. He is also a graduate of the prestigious West Point Command and Leadership Program.

He will be assigned to the Investigative Division as Division Commander.

Raps, a 22 year veteran of the East Brunswick Police Department, has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. In 1990 he worked as a probation officer with the Middlesex County Probation Department. He was hired by the East Brunswick Police Department in 1991 and was assigned to the Patrol Section upon his graduation from the Middlesex County Police Academy. In 1998, he was transferred to the Investigative Division where he performed the duties of a Detective.

On July 1, 2009 he was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant in the Investigative Division.

Raps has attended Reid Interview and Interrogation, Tactical Interview and Interrogation, Advanced Reid Interview and Interrogation courses. He also received specialized training in auto theft and insurance fraud and was a certified CVSA operator. He attended FBI Basic SWAT School and has served on the SWAT team since 2000. He attended Teamwork, Leadership and Excellence given by the IACP.

Raps has received two Life Saving Awards, Commanders Citation, Director’s Award of Excellence, and Meritorious Award along with 12 Letters of Commendation.

He will be temporarily assigned as the Commander in the Special Operations Section. It is anticipated that Lieutenant Raps will be reassigned as Assistant Commander in the Investigative Division in May of 2013.

Todoroff, a 28 year veteran of the Police Department has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He was hired by the Police Department in 1984 and was assigned to the patrol section upon his graduation from the New Jersey State Police Academy. While in patrol, he was a member of the East Brunswick Police Department’s SWAT Team and became a Drug Recognition Evaluator.

In 2009, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned as a patrol squad supervisor. Todoroff has received a Life Saving Award, a Meritorious Service Award and several Letters of Commendation.

Todoroff graduated from East Stroudsburg University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Studies Secondary Education with an emphasis in history.

He will be assigned to the Operations Division where he will serve as a shift commander.

Fitzgerald, a 24 year veteran of the Police Department, has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Fitzgerald began his police career as a Patrolman with the Conrail Police Department following his graduation from the Essex County Police Academy in 1987.

He was then hired by the East Brunswick Police Department in 1989 as a Patrolman. In 1992, Fitzgerald was transferred into the Investigative Division as a Narcotics Detective. He returned to the Operations Division in 1994.
Fitzgerald has served as a sniper on the Police Department’s SWAT team.

Fitzgerald attended college at Caldwell College. He has served as a Field Training Officer, a Firearms Instructor, Department Armorer, and he has received several awards including a Meritorious Service Award.

He will be assigned to the Operations Division where he will serve as a shift supervisor.

-East Brunswick Police Department