By DON STINE
Capt. Stephen Carasia, a 20-year veteran with the Deal police department, is scheduled to be sworn in as the borough’s new police chief tomorrow (Dec. 19) at 10 a.m. He will officially become chief on Jan. 1.
“Capt. Carasia has worked very hard on the job and advanced through the ranks during his 20 years on the force. I am proud and honored to swear him in as the new chief,” said Mayor Harry I. Franco.
Carasia replaces outgoing Chief Michael J. Sylvester, who has worked in the borough for about 32 years.
Franco said Carasia has done an outstanding job as a police officer but that he has also achieved an impressive educational record.
“He has exhibited and demonstrated leadership qualities on all levels and I attribute much of that to his training and education. He is extremely knowledgeable of all facets of law enforcement and I think he will do a great job. He has a strong commitment to the police department,” Franco said.
Carasia will become the eighth police chief in the history of Deal since the department was established in 1898.
He graduated from DeVry Technical Institute in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He joined the Deal police department in July, 1988 as a dispatcher and was appointed as a patrolman in March, 1989.
Carasia, who has received numerous commendations and awards, was promoted to sergeant in June, 1996 and received Officer of the Year Award for 1992/1993. He also earned a Meritorious Award in 1993 for a weapons arrest and was awarded two Commendation Awards for DWI arrests and life-saving in 1994 and 1995 respectively.
He also assisted in the arrest of 41 subjects for underage drinking in 2006- the largest single department arrest for that year.
Carasia was promoted to captain in 2008 and graduated from the NJ State Chiefs West Point Command and Leadership program as well as from other law enforcement programs.
He earned his Masters Degree in Administrative Science from Farleigh Dickinson University in 2009.
Carasia is a member of both the Deal Fire Company #2 and the Deal First Aid Squad. He was chief of the fire department in 1996 and captain of the first aid squad in 1992.
He lives in Ocean Township with his wife, Jennifer, and their two children, Morgan, 8, and Christopher, 5.
Read more about your town by picking up The Coaster at your local newsstand or subscribe today.
Published every Thursday.
