Local 187 State Delegate Papero
named Officer of the Year
Mercer County Sheriff’s Local 187 honored the 2017 Officer of
the Year and distributed various citation awards to distinguished
units at a ceremony held on May 26. Mercer County Sheriff Jack
Kemler announced Officer Pasquale “Pat” Papero as Officer of the
Year for his outstanding service and professional achievement
within the community.
Papero is a 15-year veteran of Local 187, where he currently
works in the Airport K-9 Unit. His law enforcement career began
when he graduated from Trenton Police Academy in 2002. After
completed extensive training at the NJ State Police K-9 Training
Academy, Papero and his K-9 partners have conducted hundreds
of searches for illegal substances and explosives in multiple public
spaces.
Papero has worked explosive security for large-population
events throughout Mercer County and uses his experience in the
field as an instructor at the NJ State Police Canine Training Acade-
my in Sea Girt. Papero was also commended for his dedicated ser-
vice while assisting in the search for explosives in the 2013 Princ-
eton University bomb scare and working on the security detail at
Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands.
“Officer Papero is an accomplished Sheriff’s Officer with an im-
peccable and commendable record of public service,” said Sheriff
Jack Kemler.
Sheriff Kemler also presented Unit Citation Awards to officers,
investigators, and detectives who serve within specific units that
have displayed outstanding performance throughout the year. Ci-
tation awards were granted to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office
Child Support Enforcement Unit and the Mercer County Sheriff’s
Office Fugitive Unit. Awards were also presented to officers with
five, 10, 15, and 20 years of departmental service and those who
served in the United States military. d
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new jersey cops
■ JUNE 2017
Mercer County Sheriffs Local 187 Officer of the Year Pasquale Papero and
Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler