Lower Township Police Department Promoted a New Sergeant First Class, Honored Retired Sergeant

VILLAS – The Lower Township Police Department promoted a sergeant first class and honored a retired sergeant on Aug. 5 at the Lower Township Council Meeting.
Sgt. 1st Class Robert Hartman, Jr. is the father of two daughters, Desiree’ and Erica.  Hartman was hired in September 1994 and graduated from the Cape May County Police Academy’s (CMCPA) Ninth Basic Course for Police Officers in January 1995. He has served with the Patrol Division for over 24 years and previously held the rank of corporal, where he served as a patrol supervisor and as an assistant/acting squad leader. 
According to a release, Hartman previously worked for the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office, as a corrections officer, from November 1993 until September 1994.  Hartman will be assigned as the Administrative Sergeant as part of the police administration. 
He is a graduate of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) Front Line Supervision Program. Hartman also completed the Proactive Police Supervision, Police Risk Management, JIF Managerial l & Supervisory courses, as well as an extensive amount of training in the handling of domestic violence, crash investigations, driving while intoxicated/impaired enforcement, use of force, ethics, emergency vehicle operations, and incident command.
Hartman has served as the Lower Township Police Department Policemen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) representative for a combined 16 years, vice president of PBA Local 59 for five years and the New Jersey state delegate of PBA Local 59 from 2014 to 2019. During his PBA service, he has attended four annual collective bargaining seminars, seven PBA annual mini conventions, and four national conventions where he received extensive training as well as networking with other law enforcement leaders, focusing on protecting the rights of law enforcement officers and increasing officer safety. 
Hartman is a 1991 graduate of Lower Cape May Regional High School and previously attended Wagner College. 
His father, Robert Hartman, Sr., a retired Lower Township police sergeant, pinned Hartman’s badge. His daughters, Desiree’ and Erica held the Bible during the taking of his oath.
Sgt. Edward Edwards
Lower Township Police Chief William Mastriana also honored Sgt. Edward Edwards on his retirement. Edwards served 25 years with the Lower Township Police Department. He started his law enforcement career in 1991 as a Class II Special Officer with the Cape May Police Department. He was then hired as a full-time Lower Township police officer in January 1994. He graduated from the Cape May County Police Academy (CMCPA) in May 1994.
Edwards also earned an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Becker College and a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Stockton College. 
Edwards was assigned to the Patrol Division most of his career and received multiple commendations and letters of appreciation. He was credited with saving a child from a residential structure fire. Edwards was also commended for ascertaining, investigating and sharing information that led to the conviction of a murder for hire, prior to the loss of any life. As a sergeant, he served as a patrol supervisor and squad leader of Patrol Squad II.