By Elaine Van Develde

“Because he’s one of our own, it’s even more special.”

That’s what Fair Haven Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge told a packed audience at Borough Hall Monday night about Fair Haven native Brooks Robinson just before he was sworn in as a patrolman in the borough’s Police Department.

A 2006 Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School graduate, Robinson was brought into the department in 2012 as a Special Law Enforcement Officer Class I and more recently was promoted to a Class II.

He studied at Brookdale Community College and received his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University.

But, for the chief, the honor in promoting Robinson was more a Fair Haven family affair.

Welcoming the Fair Haven Robinson family and the family, and extended family of  his wife, Alyssa Pecyno Robinson, also a 2006 RFH graduate, he talked a little bit about why.

“To me, it’s a great honor to be able bring someone aboard on a full-time basis here in Fair Haven who actually went through the school system here, went to the high school and is a part of the town,” he said. “Brooks is going to be a tremendous asset to the department.”

Bringing out the bible, that he noted has been in the Fair Haven family for many years and was donated to the borough by Hap Williams for swearing-ins, Mayor Lucarelli administered the oath to Robinson, Alyssa holding the bible.

” … And that I will faithfully, impartially and justly perform the duties of patrolman according to the best of my ability, so help me God … Congratulations.”

Applause.

Congratulations, Patrolman Brooks Robinson!