Photo credit Belleville Township: Mayor Michael Melham, Sergeant Barbara Bermudez, Capt. Frank Pignataro,  Lt. William Washington and Chief Mark Minichini during the brief ceremony attended by friends, family and fellow members of the township’s finest.

Barbara Bermudez was bursting with pride when she became the first Latina in the history Belleville Police Department to be promoted.

“It’s just one more door that’s opening for all of us,” she said, after being promoted to sergeant during a ceremony at Town Hall on April 12. “It’s an amazing accomplishment and I am so proud to be the first one.”

Bermudez, Capt. Frank Pignataro and Lt. William Washington took the oath in front of Mayor Michael Melham during the brief ceremony attended by friends, family and fellow members of the township’s finest.

For Bermudez, it was a long journey to arrive at her place in Belleville history. She spent 10 years working as a teacher before listening to a voice deep inside that kept saying police work was her true calling.

She said she goes about her daily duties of serving and protecting the residents of Belleville with a great deal of care and compassion.

“My heart – I want to help,” she said. “I want to be part of my community. I want to give 110% to everything that I do.”

Photo credit Belleville Township: Sergeant Barbara Bermudez taking the oath as administered by Mayor Michael Melham.

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