Lower Township Police Department Promotes Five Officers

LOWER TOWNSHIP — The Lower Township Police Department has promoted five Police Officers, three who have taken the Oath of Office at the Lower Township Council Meeting on Wed., Jan. 3, 2018.
One Officer was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, one officer to the rank of Sergeant First Class, two officers to the rank of Sergeant and one to the rank of corporal. The Sergeant First Class and Corporal positions are in house promotions.
The promoted officers listed by rank and seniority are:
Lieutenant John Chew is the father of two, Kyliebree and Johnny. He has an associates degree in criminal justice from ACC. He was hired in 1995 and promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2006. He also spent 10 years on the Swat team. He will be assigned as the Patrol Bureau Commander.
Sergeant First Class (SFC) Donald Vanaman is the father of three children, Liberty Vanaman (22), Marshal Vanaman (20), and Avery Vanaman (9). He is a fourteen (14) year veteran of the department and also serves as the Commander of the 348th MP Detachment (CID), Ft. Dix, NJ in the US Army Reserve as a Chief Warrant Officer 3. Vanaman is assigned to the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division as a Special Agent and has received extensive training in Criminal Investigation, Intelligence, and Protective Services by the U.S. Army. During his twenty-two year military career he has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Korea, and numerous stateside assignments. He also previously served as a Senior Corrections Officer with the NJ Department of Corrections. SFC Vanaman was formerly a Lower Township Police Detective, SWAT and Sniper Team member, but has served most of his career with the Patrol Division. He is currently pursuing his Bachel or’s Degree. He will be assigned as the Administrative Sergeant.
Sergeant Robert C. Smith Jr. is the father of two sons, Robert (Bobby) Smith III (19) & Branden Smith (15). He was hired Sept., 1995 and graduated the Cape May County Police Academy’s 10th Municipal Class and assigned to Patrol. In 1998 he was assigned to the Detective Division. During his time in Detectives he was assigned to work with the Cape May county prosecutors office narcotics task force where he had the opportunity to work as an Undercover Narcotics Officer. Smith is currently a member of the Cape May County Prosecutors Office Crisis Negotiation Team. He is assigned as a Patrol Squad Sergeant.
Sergeant Charles “CJ” Ryan is an 11 year veteran hired in Feb. of 2007. He is a 2003 graduate of Rowan University with a bachelor of arts degree in law and justice studies. Within the police department he has held additional duties to include Field Training Officer, Honor Guard and Firearms Instructor. He has been a member of the Cape May County SWAT team since 2011 and a member of the SWAT Sniper element since 2015. He has also served in the New Jersey Air National Guard since 2001. His deployments include Qatar 2003, Iraq 2005 and Afghanistan 2011. Sergeant Ryan commissioned as a lieutenant in 2015 and continues to serve in the Air National Guard. He is assigned as a Patrol Squad Sergeant.
Corporal John Armbruster Jr. was hired by the Lower Township Police Department in Aug. 2012. He earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Atlantic Cape Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Promotion from Coastal Carolina University, where he graduated with the honor of Cum Luade. While in college John Armbruster received the academic award of President’s List one semester and was awarded to the Dean’s List every other semester. He is a Field Training Officer, a Defensive Tactics Instructor and a Physical Fitness Instructor. In 2015 he was recognized by the Mothers Against Drunk Driving for outstanding and distinguished service for DUI/DWI enforcement. He is assigned as second in charge on a Patrol Squad.