Patrol Officer German Decena of the Hillsdale Police Department officially joined Pascack Valley on Monday, Dec. 10, as the school’s student resource officer.

On Sept. 14, it was announced that Officer Mike Camporeale was promoted to sergeant and would no longer be the resource officer at PV. Decena received the notice that there was a job opening.

After much contemplation, Decena decided that he would take the job at PV after being offered. The one big thing he was contemplating before taking the position was leaving patrol.

“I enjoy working patrol and have built some good skills that I enjoy using while on the road,” Decena said.

As a Hillsdale patrol officer, Decena’s job consisted of traffic stops, responding to calls, completing reports, and handling the initial investigations to pass on to detectives.

After five years as a patrol officer, Decena said that he is looking forward to a different type of police work and getting to know the students and faculty.

“I’m trying to be more of a person that is there to help and assist, rather than your normal police officer on the road that people are scared to approach,” Decena said. “I want to be seen as a friendlier and more approachable person to be able to help people out.”

Camporeale has been bringing Decena around PV and introducing him to the faculty and students. Camporeale said that Decena already knows the “ins and outs” of what the job entails, but he just has to learn the specific duties of a school resource officer versus those of a patrol officer.

While Camporeale said that he will definitely miss being part of the PV community, he is “ecstatic” about his new role as a sergeant.

Decena said that anyone at PV can approach him with any questions or concerns.

“I want to make it known that I am someone that people can talk to,” Decena said. “There’s someone here besides the faculty and administrators that people can go to for any help whatsoever.”