Meet the Staff

Meet Detective Gabe Castellanos with the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.  Gabe has participated in previous youth programs within Bogota.  He comes with years of military and law enforcement experience including the United States Army-Iraq veteran, NYPD-Brooklyn, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Bergen County Police Department, Bergen County Sheriff's Department and the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.  The Bogota Junior Police Academy is honored to bring Gabe's unique background and experience to ensure the kids get the most our of this program as possible.  Thank you Detective Castellanos!

Meet Sgt. Devin Rivera of the Bogota Police Department.  Devin studied Criminal Justice at Rutgers University and began his law enforcement career with the Passaic County Sheriff's Department in 2006.  He transferred to the Bogota Police Department in 2010 where he was assigned to the patrol division.  Throughout his career, Devin received specialty training to become a firearms instructor, school resource officer, and drug recognition expert.  He is currently assigned as a patrol Sergeant to D Squad.  Devin has participated in previous youth programs within Bogota.  Thank you Sgt. Rivera!

Meet Officer George Hondros of the Bogota Police Department.  George began his career in law enforcement with Rutgers University Police Department assigned to the Newark Campus in 2019.  He transferred to the Bogota Police Department in 2021 where he is currently assigned to the patrol division.  George is also a Physical Conditioning Training Instructor at the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute and is the Commander of the Bogota Police Honor Guard.  George proudly serves his community by volunteering with his local Fire Department for the past 17 years.  Thank you Officer Hondros!

Meet Officer Michael Torres of the Bogota Police Department.  Mike received his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Stockton University in 2011. From there he served with the Army National Guard and had two overseas deployments before retiring.  He then came to the Bogota Police Department in September 2021 where he is currently assigned to the patrol division and a member of the Bogota Police Honor Guard.  Mike became a Police Officer as a way to continue to serve his country and community.  Thank you Officer Torres!

Meet Officer Laura Shakiri of the Bogota Police Department.  Laura studied Criminal Justice at Fairleigh Dickinson University.  Laura was a Special Police Officer with the Hackensack Police Department before she joined the Paterson Police Department as a full time Police Officer.  In December 2022 she transferred to the Bogota Police Department where she is currently assigned to the patrol division and a member of the Bogota Police Honor Guard.  Laura enjoys participating in our local basketball games between our high school student and first responders. Thak you Officer Shakiri!

Meet SLEO III Dave Naimaister of the Bogota Police Department.  Dave served with the West Orange Police Department for 25 years before retiring and coming to Bogota.  He's currently assigned to the Bogota Middle School and Bogota High School and has successfully earned the trust and respect of the students.  Dave graduated from the University of Lousiville with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications on a full football scholarship.  Prior to his service in law enforcement, Dave tried out for the Washington Commanders.  He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and is fluent in Spanish.  Thank you Officer Naimaister!

Meet Officer Ryan Ward of the Bogota Police Department. Before his career in law enforcement, Ryan worked at Bergen Community College as a Public Safety Officer and at Operating Engineers Union as a building monitor.   Ryan studied Business Administration at Cuny University before joining the Bogota Police Department in January 2012 where he is assigned to the patrol division.  Ryan is certified as a School Resource Officer and Humane Law Enforcement Officer as well as being a member of the Bogota Tactical Response Team.  Thank you Officer Ward!

Meet Officer Jennifer Ali of the Little Ferry Police Department.  Jen was hired in 2014 by the Little Ferry Police Department where she is currenlty assigned as the School Resource Officer and Juvenile Officer.  She has been an instructor with the Ridgefield Park/Little Ferry Jr. Police Academy since 2012 and is also an instructor of various recruit courses at the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute.  She is certified in American Red Cross First Aid, CPR, and Babysitting Course instructor.  In 2023 Jen received the Bergen County's School Resource Officer Excellence Award for her dedication and outstanding job with student in Little Ferry.  Thank you Officer Ali!

Meet Elizabeth Wieskus, our program assistant.  Lizzy began as a cadet in the Emergency Services Youth Academy at the age of 12 and quickly recognized her aspirations to become more involved.  She became an intern where her enthusiasm continued to grow and realized there was still more she can accomplish.  Retired Sgt. Lynch appointed Lizzy to executive assistant where she conquered every task given to her while maintaining the program's core values.  Lizzy graduated from the University of New Haven in 2021 where she earned a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology.  She's currently employed by the NJ Division of Children and Family Services as a Care Manager.  Thank you Lizzy!