DANIEL ZIESER IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2014 UNICO RICHARD J. GALANTE, SR. HUMANITARIAN AWARD. DAN WAS HIRED ON JANUARY 1, 2009 AND IS THE POLICE DIRECTOR FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF UNION. DAN HAD A 35 YEAR CAREER WITH THE NEWARK POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE YOUNGEST POLICE OFFICER IN THE COUNTRY. DAN WAS ASSIGNED TO FOOT AND MOBILE PATROL IN AN ASSIGNED CITY SECTOR. THEN, AN UNMARKED SECTOR UNIT FOR VICE AND GAMBLING LAW ENFORCEMENT. AS A DETECTIVE FOR THE NEWARK POLICE DEPARTMENT ROBBERY SQUAD HIS RRESPONSIBILITIES WERE TO INVESTIGATE ALL FIREARM RELATED CRIMES INCLUDING HOMICIDE, EXECUTE SEARCH AND ARREST WARRANTS AND CONDUCT INTERVIEWS AND INTERROGATIONS. DAN CAME UP THE RANKS TO BECOME DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE NEWARK POLICE DEPARTMENT IN JANUARY, 2002. HE HAD ULTIMATE SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE NEWARK POLICE DEPARTMENT. SQUADS SUPERVISED INCLUDED HOMICIDE, NARCOTICS, ROBBERY AND AUTO THEFT. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENTS OF TERRORISTIC THREATS. DAN ALSO TASKED WITH MONITORING STREET-GANG ORGANIZED CRIME ACTIVITIES. DAN COMMANDED ALL NEWARK PRECINCTS. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUPERVISION OF 1,400 OFFICERS. SPAN OF CONTROL INCLUDED PATROL, HOMELAND SECURITY AND TRAFFIC DIVISIOINS. HE MONITORED AND ANALYZED DAILY CRIME TRENDS ON CITY-WIDE BASIS AND CHAIRED DAILY CRIME ANALYSIS MEETINGS AND DEPLOYED RESOURCES ACCORDINGLY.
DAN’S EDUCATION WAS VERY EXTENSIVE AND CONSISTED OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY; 21ST CENTURY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, PENN STATE: POLICE EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY; POLICE SCIENCE PROGRAM, DALE CARNEGIE INSTITUTE: CUSTOMIZED POLICE TRAINING, NJ STATE POLICE, THE FOLLOWING: HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION TRAINING, ADVANCED INVESTIGATION CURRICULUM, FORENSIC SCIENCE PROGRAM, AND POLICE YOUTH GANG PROGRAM. DAN’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND COMMENDATIONS INCLUDE: ORIGINAL MEMBER OF GREATER NEWARK SAFER CITIES INITIATIVE: RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NEWARK POLICE CLASS “A” MEDAL OF VALOR (DEPARTMENT’S HIGHEST COMMENDATION), THREE CLASS “B” MEDALS OF MERIT, FIFTEEN CLASS “C” MEDALS FOR EXCELLENT POLICE DUTY AND TWENTY-FIVE COMMAND CITATIONS. IN UNION, DAN HAS SEEN A DROP IN CRIME BY AT LEAST 2 PERCENTAGE POINTS AND AN INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY BY THE RANK AND FILE. HE DEVELOPED A PROGRAM WITHIN “JOBS IN BLUE” WHERE MARKED RADIO CARS ARE RENTED OUT FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION JOBS. THIS PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT IN OVER 1 MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE AND HAS SINCE BOUGHT EVERY POLICE CAR SINCE 2010 WITHOUT USING TAXPAYER FUNDING. DAN DEVELOPED A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNION BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT RESULTED IN THE ASSIGNMENT OF A “SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER” TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
DAN OBTAINED A FEDERAL GRANT TO INSTALL SECURITY CAMERAS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL. HE INSTALLED VIDEO AND AUDIO IN ALL PATROL CARS IN 2010. A LAW REQUIRING JUST THAT WAS PASSED LAST WEEK IN THE LEGISLATURE.