The Firearms Unit is comprised of 1 Lieutenant and 4 Patrol Officers. The members of the unit are all certified Firearms Instructors for Handguns, Shotguns and Patrol Rifles. The unit is tasked with training and qualifying all members of the department biannually in each of the weapons. Two members of the Firearms Unit are also the department armorers. They are responsible for maintenance and repairs on the department issued weapons.
Training - Sergeant Michael Casella #90
Sgt. Mike Casella began his law enforcement career in 2001 at the New Jersey Department of Corrections. In 2008 he became a member of the Burlington Township Police Department. Sgt. Casella was assigned to the Patrol Bureau from 2008 to 2016. While in patrol he was a member of the Bicycle Patrol Unit and the Adopt a Cop Program. Additionally, he served as a Field Training Officer training many of our current officers.
In 2016, he was assigned to the Detective Bureau working several major cases in and around Burlington Township. In 2018, while assigned to the Detective Bureau he was selected as the Burlington Township Officer of the Year. In 2019, Sgt. Casella joined the Community Resource Bureau as a School Resource Officer where he was assigned to the B. Bernice Young School, Fountain Woods School, and BTMS. As a member of the Community Resource Bureau and School Resource Officer, he has taught the Great Program, the Citizens Police Academy, and also helped with the Youth Emergency Services Academy.
At the end of 2022, Sgt. Casella was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned the Patrol Bureau Squad 3 Supervisor. In June 2024, Sgt. Casella was assigned to the Professional Standards Bureau as the Training Sergeant. He is a Defensive Tactics Instructor and Taser Instructor. In his off time, Sgt. Casella enjoys spending time with his family, vacationing, and riding motorcycles.
Training Unit
The Training Unit's purpose is to develop, implement, and track all of the department’s training programs, to include field training, mandatory in-service training, roll call training, continuing education training, etc. This unit is also responsible for assigning members of this department to attend educational courses offered by outside entities. Upcoming courses being hosted by Burlington Twp. Police Dept. can be found here.
Accreditation
CALEA, or The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., is a National credentialing authority, based in the United States, whose primary mission is to accredit public safety agencies, namely law enforcement agencies, training academies, communications centers, and campus public safety agencies. The CALEA Accreditation process focuses on standards that provide best practices related to life, health, and safety procedures for the Burlington Township Police Department. The program provides a framework for addressing high risk issues within a contemporary environment, and ensures officers are prepared to meet basic community service expectations and prepared to manage critical events.
The Burlington Township Police Department received its initial accreditation on March 25, 2000. Since then, it has been reaccredited 7 times (every 3 years). During the reaccreditation process, a team of law enforcement professionals perform an on-site inspection and evaluation of the agency. The Burlington Township Police Department is 1 of only 18 CALEA accredited agencies in the State of New Jersey, and 1 of just 6 Municipal Law Enforcement Agencies.
For questions related to the department's Accreditation, please contact Lt. Holba at 609-386-2019.