Pleasantville welcomes new police chief - NBC40.net

At a Pleasantville City Council meeting Monday night, Mayor Jesse Tweedle administered the oath to new police chief Jose Ruiz, who had been serving as acting chief since July second.

Chief Ruiz thanked his officers and colleagues in attendance and looked forward to working closely with Mayor Tweedle.

"The mayor and I have a great dialogue. We're looking forward to moving the city forward. Whatever I can do with the police department, with my officers, to serve the community better, that's what I want to do," said Chief Ruiz.

The Hispanic Lawyers Organization of South Jersey was also on hand to present Chief Ruiz with a plaque and honored him for becoming the first Hispanic chief of police in the history of Pleasantville.

Chief Ruiz said it is an honor to represent the Latino community and looks forward to getting started.

"It's an honor that people recognize it. To me it's just another day on the job. People are making a big deal being the first Hispanic in the area but I'm honored by it but also I just want to move on and do what needs to be done in the community."

Mayor Jesse Tweedle says the support of family and law enforcement in the crowd shows the character of Chief Ruiz.

"The crowd is a testament to what people think of him, how highly revered he is not just as a police chief but as a person. He has respect from his peers, his fellow officers and they have most importantly, they have confidence in him," said Mayor Tweedle.

Ruiz's focus and dedication to his profession is what helped him get to this point.

"There were some things that stood in my way, either I went around them or through them and nothing was going to stop me and I got to this point," said Chief Ruiz.