Ridgewood Police Department Honors Officer of the Year and Welcomes New Officers

photos courtesy of the Ridgewood Police Department

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — The Ridgewood community came together during tonight’s council meeting to celebrate exceptional service and growth within the local police force. Chief Lyons, alongside the mayor and council members, presented the prestigious 2025 Police Officer of the Year Award and officially swore in three new officers ready to serve the borough.

Officer William Malone Named 2025 Police Officer of the Year

This year’s top honor was awarded to Officer William Malone, whose dedication to the department’s core mission of community policing truly stood out.

According to Chief Lyons, Officer Malone’s recognition stems from an outstanding, self-driven effort to help a local resident. After encountering a resident in need of assistance during a standard, routine call for service, Officer Malone didn’t just move on to the next assignment.

On his own accord—and without seeking recognition—Officer Malone continued to drop by and check on the resident during his patrol down-time over the following weeks to ensure they were safe and doing well.

“Officer Malone continues to set an example for all of our officers to follow,” said Chief Lyons, praising his quiet, compassionate dedication to the residents of Ridgewood.

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Ridgewood PD Welcomes Three New Officers to the Ranks

In addition to celebrating Officer Malone’s achievements, the department officially swore in three new officers who have successfully graduated from the police academy and completed the rigorous Ridgewood Police Department Field Training Program:

• Officer John Riker – A proud veteran of the U.S. Navy.

• Officer Brian Skettini – A local Ridgewood High School (RHS) Class of 2020 graduate.

• Officer David DeNicola – A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and a current serving member of the National Guard.

These new officers are already on the streets, actively serving and protecting the Ridgewood community.

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