Operations Division

The Operations is commanded by Captain John Ricerca.

Captain John Ricerca is a 32-year veteran of law enforcement.  He was sworn in as a Special Law Enforcement Officer II for the Westfield Police Department on February 9, 1990 and subsequently completed the Basic Course for Police Officers at the Gloucester County Police Academy at Rowan College of South Jersey.

Captain Ricerca briefly left the Westfield Police Department to serve as a Union County Sheriff’s Officer from January 1, 1991 to September 30, 1992.

Captain Ricerca was appointed to the Westfield Police Department as a Police Officer on October 1, 1992, and he served as a Patrol Officer and Field Training Officer until his promotion to Sergeant of Police on February 1, 2005.  

As a patrol supervisor, Captain Ricerca was instrumental in the creation, implementation and management of the Westfield Police Department’s first-ever Field Training Program for newly-appointed, full-time regular police officers.  He served as the Field Training Program’s Coordinator from its inception in January 2006 until July 2020, and now serves the Field Training Program’s Commander.

After serving over two (2) years as a patrol supervisor and acting Watch Commander, Captain Ricerca was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant of Police on October 6, 2008 and assigned to the Westfield Police Department’s Investigative Division as the supervisor of the Detective Bureau.

On December 23, 2009, Captain Ricerca was promoted to Lieutenant of Police and was assigned as the commander of the Westfield Police Department’s Investigative Division, responsible for the oversight of all investigative bureaus, units and/or functions, which included the Community Response Tactical Unit, which existed from August 1, 2016 to August 25, 2018.

Captain Ricerca is an experienced criminal investigator, who also served as the Westfield Police Department’s Internal Affairs Officer from September 2013 to November 2014.  

Captain Ricerca was promoted to Captain of Police on November 24, 2014.  He presently serves as the commanding officer of the Operations and Investigations Division, responsible for all uniformed officers assigned to Patrol Services, as well as the Traffic Safety Bureau.  Additionally, Captain Ricerca maintains administrative oversight of Parking Services, which includes the parking enforcement function.

Captain Ricerca is a highly-decorated officer, having been awarded a Life Saving Medal, a Medal of Merit, a Unit Citation, four (4) Command Citations, the Hurricane Sandy and COVID-19 Exceptional Service Awards, and two (2) Certificates of Merit.

Captain Ricerca, a Cranford native, currently resides in Westfield with his four (4) children: Gianna, Anthony, Gabriella and John, Jr.  All attended or are attending Westfield Public Schools, including Westfield High School.