RARITAN TWP, N.J. – The Raritan Township Committee appointed Jack Gale, Jr., to serve and protect Hunterdon Central Regional High School.

Gale was sworn in at the committee’s recent meeting after approval of a resolution appointing him as a Class III Special Law Enforcement Officer.

The designation was created by a law signed by Gov. Chris Christie in 2016. It was part of a bill that authorized municipalities in the state to hire retired police officers to work as part-time school resource officers.

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There is strong support for having Class III officers at the school, according to Dr. Jeffrey Moore, Hunterdon Central superintendent.

“Surveys of our community, parents and students told us there is strong support for bringing Class III officers onto our campus,” he said in a statement.

Moore added that students pointed to Corporal Timothy Nemeth, the current full-time resource officer, as why they would welcome another police officer on campus.

Gale’s appointment is scheduled to end on July 1, unless terminated by the committee sooner.