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Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli announced that Dr. Cesar DePaço has donated $3,800 to provide a ballistic vest for K9 Kona, helping protect the patrol-trained K9 during deployments throughout Union County.

The donation follows Dr. DePaço’s recent visit to the Union County Sheriff’s Office canine facility, where he met K9 Kona and learned more about the work of the K9 Unit. The unit serves all 21 municipalities in Union County and provides mutual aid to law enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey.

“We are extremely grateful to Dr. DePaço for once again supporting K9 Kona and the important work of our K9 Unit,” said Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli. “His generosity made it possible for us to bring Kona into our agency, and this latest donation will help ensure that Kona is properly protected while serving alongside our officers. This continued commitment to the safety of our K9 partners and the communities they serve is sincerely appreciated.”

Dr. DePaço previously donated $10,500 for the purchase of K9 Kona. After completing months of extensive training and earning certification, K9 Kona was officially placed into service as a member of the Union County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit.

The ballistic vest will provide K9 Kona with an additional layer of protection while assisting Sheriff’s Officers during patrol duties and other law enforcement operations.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. DePaço and the DePaço Foundation for their continued generosity, dedication to public safety and support of the officers and K9 partners who serve Union County.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office proudly celebrated the graduation of 120 Union County middle and high school students from the 2026 Youth Police Academy!

Coordinated by Lieutenant Tara Halpin, Officer Zachary Esparra, and Detective Joseph Florio, the program provided participants with a unique, hands-on introduction to the many aspects of law enforcement and public safety.

Throughout the academy, recruits participated in training and demonstrations involving CPR, K9 operations, motor vehicle defensive driving, arrest procedures, crime scene processing, defensive tactics, and team-building exercises.

The program also provided students with the opportunity to meet and learn from the dedicated men and women of several partner agencies, including the Union County Fire Academy, Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Union County SWAT Team, Elizabeth Police Department, New Jersey Fish & Wildlife Police, and Scotch Plains EMS.

At the graduation ceremony, each participant received a graduation packet and commemorative plaque recognizing their successful completion of the academy. Special recognition was also awarded to recruits Gabriel Pinto, Mikaela Ricardo, and Taylor Miller for their outstanding achievements during the program.

Sheriff Peter Corvelli congratulates all 120 graduates and thanks Lieutenant Halpin, Officer Esparra, Detective Florio, the participating agencies, and everyone who helped make this year’s Youth Police Academy a tremendous success.

We are proud to provide opportunities that encourage young people to develop leadership skills, build confidence, strengthen teamwork, and gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the important work performed by law enforcement and public safety professionals throughout Union County

We’ve received reports of an ongoing phone scam in which callers are impersonating Sheriff’s Officers, demanding payment for service of process and/or “missed jury duty”.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office will never call and demand payment over the phone for any reason, not for service of process, jury duty, gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.

If you get a call like this, hang up. Don’t give out personal or financial information. If you want to verify someone as a UCSO officer, call the UCSO directly at 908-527-4450.

Please share this with friends and family, especially anyone who may be a target for this kind of call. If you believe you’ve been contacted by a scammer, report it to the Union County Sheriff’s Office or your local police department’s non-emergency line.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office Summer Internship Program continues to provide students with valuable, hands-on insight into the many facets of law enforcement.

This week, our interns visited the Elizabeth Police Department, where they received an informative tour and learned about the department’s specialized units, daily operations, and the vital role its officers play in serving the City of Elizabeth.

We sincerely thank Chief Giacomo Sacca and the members of the Elizabeth Police Department for welcoming our interns and generously sharing their knowledge, experience, and dedication to public service. Partnerships like this help educate, motivate, and inspire the next generation of law enforcement professionals.

On behalf of the entire Union County Sheriff’s Office, we wish our six newest recruits the very best of luck as they officially begin their training at the Police Academy today.

We are proud to have each of you join the Union County Sheriff’s Office family. Stay focused, work hard, support one another, and remember that everyone here is rooting for your success every step of the way.

Good luck, recruits! We look forward to welcoming you back as Union County Sheriff’s Officers.

Sheriff Peter Corvelli proudly welcomed six new Sheriff’s Officer recruits to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, officially swearing them in during a ceremony surrounded by family, friends, and members of the agency. Please join us in congratulating our newest recruits:

• Emily Toms – Roselle Park
• Tyler Mekovetz – Clark
• Mauricio Rivera – Elizabeth
• Joseph Grzybowski – Springfield
• Brandon Pires – Kenilworth
• Sean Rekatsinas – Linden

The recruits will now prepare to attend the John H. Stamler Police Academy, where they will receive the training and education needed to serve and protect the residents of Union County with professionalism, integrity, and dedication. Sheriff Corvelli congratulated each recruit on reaching this important milestone and wished them success as they begin this next chapter in their law enforcement careers.

Congratulations to our newest recruits! We look forward to welcoming you back as sworn Sheriff’s Officers serving the people of Union County.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners, in partnership with the Union County Sheriff’s Office, will be offering two free self-defense classes for women 18-23 on Wednesday, July 22^nd and Wednesday, July 29^th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the John H. Stamler Police Academy, located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

“As young adults head off to college, internships, travel opportunities, and summer jobs, it’s important that they feel prepared and confident navigating new environments,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “These classes are designed to provide practical self-defense skills, increase situational awareness, and help them feel empowered both on campus and in everyday life.”

Empower & Protect: College Bound Self-Defense Essentials for Women is designed to help young women feel more confident, aware, and prepared as they head into college life. Led by experienced law enforcement professionals, these hands-on sessions focus on practical self-defense techniques, situational awareness, and safety strategies for everyday situations on campus, while traveling, and during social activities. Whether you’re preparing to live away from home for the first time, looking to boost your confidence, or simply want to feel more secure in your daily routine, these classes provide valuable skills and knowledge you can carry with you wherever you go.

“Knowing how to recognize and respond to potentially unsafe situations is an important skill, especially for young adults as they prepare for college life, commuting, travel, and greater independence” said Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli. “Our instructors focus on realistic situations and simple techniques that can help participants react quickly and feel more confident in their everyday lives.”

Space is limited, and registration is required. These classes, which involve partnered practice, are identical – please sign up for only one session, and consider registering with a friend or family member. Comfortable workout attire is recommended, and shoes will not be permitted on the mats, so please plan accordingly. To participate in the hands-on portion, attendees must complete a waiver.

For more information or to register, please visit www.ucnj.org/women. To contact Jennifer Erdos at the Union County Office on Women, please call at 908-527-4216 or email Jerdos@ucnj.org.

Thje Union County Sheriff’s Office was honored to welcome Dr. Caesar DePaço, CEO of Summit Nutritionals International, Inc., during his recent visit to meet K9 Kona, who was generously donated to the agency in April 2024.

Following months of extensive training, K9 Kona has successfully completed certification and has officially been placed into service as a valued member of the Union County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit. This highly trained partner will assist Sheriff’s Officers in advancing the agency’s mission to protect and serve the residents of Union County.

Sheriff Peter Corvelli expressed his sincere appreciation to Dr. DePaço and Ms. Padovani-DePaço for their continued support, recognizing their commitment to public safety and their investment in the men, women, and K9 partners who serve our communities.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office extends its gratitude to Dr. DePaço and Ms. Padovani-DePaço for their dedication to public safety and for helping strengthen the capabilities of the K9 Unit.

Thank you for standing alongside the Union County Sheriff’s Office and supporting its mission.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office is proud to participate in the New Jersey Judiciary Security Management Response Team (NJ JSMART), a statewide law enforcement initiative dedicated to enhancing the safety and security of New Jersey’s judiciary.

Through collaboration, intelligence sharing, threat assessments, and protective investigations, NJ JSMART helps ensure courthouse environments remain safe and that potential threats are addressed in a comprehensive and professional manner. We are honored to work alongside our judiciary partners and fellow law enforcement agencies in this important mission.

Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli and the Union County Sheriff’s Office proudly support Team Sheriff in this year’s Police Unity Tour.

Undersheriff Victor Manata and Sheriff’s Officer Tyler Damm are honored to ride alongside law enforcement members from across the country in remembrance of the brave heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Now in its 30th year, the Police Unity Tour is more than a ride — it is a mission of remembrance, solidarity, and support for the families of fallen officers. We are proud of our riders and support personnel for their dedication, commitment, and willingness to take on this meaningful journey.