Meet Millburn's New Police Officer

The Millburn Police Dept. has hired and sworn in a new officer, David Pinero, 26, at the end of September. Patch sat down with the 26-year-old officer this past week.

The Patch: Why did you become a police officer?

Pinero: Let's start from the beginning. I'm originally from Paterson and joined the Marines right after that in 2004. I originally wanted to become a cop but after the events of Sept. 11 my priorities changed, so I went into the Marines.

Pinero served in the Marines from 2004 to 2008 where he did two six-month tours in Iraq. Pinero ended his enlistment as a sergeant. 

The Patch: What made you pick Millburn?

Pinero: I heard a lot of good things about this department. The town looks very nice. The people here are welcoming and very friendly.

The Patch: What your favorite pasttime?

Pinero: Honestly, I like just hanging out with my family. I try to work out as much as possible. Lately, I play a couple sports with friends. I've started to do a lot of paint balling. 

I think family though is what I like to spend time with the most because I haven't had that much time since I joined the Marines. I sort of lost four years of that. 

Pinero and his wife, Carolina, got married on the day he was sworn in, Sept. 24. They have a son David, who is 16 months old, and another on the way, due in March. 

The Patch: What do you think about the town so far?

Pinero: Honestly, I didn't know too much about Millburn. Its kind of like a best- kept secret. It seems like a very tight knit community where the police get along with its residents.  It looks like a place to raise a family. 

After his father passed away in 2008, Pinero inherited a house in Paterson. Instead of raising a family there, he sold the house to buy his in-laws house in Budd Lake. Pinero brought his mother, Bethzaida, and brother, Robert, 30, to live with him. He explained he wanted to get his brother and mother out of Paterson along with the rest of his family. 

The Patch: What will you bring to the Millburn Police?

Pinero: I think my military experience will be an easy transition into the department. I think I can learn as much from them as they can learn from me. 

The Patch: Is there anything else you would like to say to the town?

Pinero: I'm just looking forward to working with the department. I'm interested in what the community thinks about the department.