Monroe Township Swears-In New Chief of Police and Promotes Four Officers
MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J. – January 26, 2024 – The Township of Monroe swore-in a new Chief of Police and promoted four senior officers as part of its 2024 Reorganization and General Township Council meeting on Wednesday, January 3.
Chief Griffin Banos officially took the oath of office as Chief of Police of the Monroe Township Police Department effective January 1. Chief Banos replaces Chief Michael J. Biennas who retired effective January 1 after 36 years of dedicated service.
“Chief Banos has proven his commitment to serve and protect the residents of Monroe Township since he first took his oath of office as a new patrol officer twenty years ago,” said Mayor Stephen Dalina. “We sincerely thank Chief Biennas for his decades of service to our Township and wish him all the best in his retirement. I am confident that Chief Banos will continue Monroe’s long tradition of dedicated leaders at the Monroe Township Police Department. The safety of our community is in strong and immensely capable hands.”
Since joining the Monroe Township Police Department as a patrolman in 2004, Chief Banos has been promoted through the ranks based on solid performance and strong command decisions. Banos was sworn in as a Patrolman on October 4, 2004, after graduating from the Somerset Count Police Academy in June 2004. He was assigned to the Detective Bureau in July 2008 where he focused on narcotics cases and often worked with the Middlesex County task force. In December 2010, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the Patrol Division where he ran a patrol squad until December 2014 when he returned to the Detective Bureau as a supervisor.
Chief Banos led the Detective Bureau until August 2018. He then was promoted to Lieutenant and led the Training Bureau for a year until returning to the Detective Bureau as Commander. He was promoted to Captain overseeing the Detective Bureau, Administration Division and Records in January 2023.
“I am honored and proud to lead the dedicated men and women of the Monroe Township Police Department who work tirelessly every day to maintain a safe community for our residents and businesses,” said Banos. “I am thankful to Mayor Dalina for entrusting me with this vitally important role and I am committed to working collaboratively to address the evolving needs of our Township.”
After taking his Oath, Chief Banos announced four promotions within the Monroe Township Police Department.
Lieutenant Keith Saloom was promoted to the position of Captain, replacing Banos. Sergeants Joseph Silvestri and George Olynyk were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and Officer Brian Taylor was promoted to Sergeant.
“We congratulate Captain Saloom, Lieutenant Silvestri, Lieutenant Olynyk and Sergeant Taylor on their well-deserved promotions,” said Mayor Dalina, expressing confidence in the Monroe Township Police Department leadership and their collective ability to enhance public safety and community relations.
Keith Saloom was sworn in as a Police Officer in the patrol division on November 1, 2000. He graduated from the Somerset County Police Academy in June 2000. Throughout his tenure, Captain Saloom has been assigned to various divisions/roles within the department, including the Patrol Division for 10 years, the Traffic Safety Unit, SWAT Team, bicycle patrol, Honor Guard and Field Training Officer. Captain Saloom also has achieved specialized training, including DEA Tactical School, FBI Advanced Criminal Investigation, Less Lethal Weapons Instructor, Reid Criminal Interview and Interrogation and NTOA SWAT School. Most recently he was assigned to the Detective Bureau overseeing professional standards.
Joseph Silvestri attended Monmouth University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He graduated from the Ocean County Police Academy and began his law enforcement career with the Brielle Police Department before being hired by the Monroe Township Police Department in July 2005. Lieutenant Silvestri served in the Patrol Division and was then assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division in 2014. As a detective, Lt. Silvestri taught the LEAD Program and completed training to become a Certified Financial Crimes Investigator as well as Certified Crime Scene Investigator. He was promoted to Sergeant in the Patrol Division in 2019 and in 2023 he was assigned to the Administrative Division and Internal Affairs Unit. He will now oversee the Professional Standards Bureau.
George Olynyk earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Middlesex County College in 1996. He was sworn in as a Monroe Police Officer on August 1, 1998, after graduating from the Gloucester County Police Academy Class #14 as an alternate route candidate. He was assigned to the Patrol Division for approximately 22 years. He also has specialized training in firearms and has been the agency Firearms Instructor for the past 12 years.
In 2003, he began teaching new officers as part of the Field Training program during which time he wrote and implemented the current policy and has managed the Field Training Unit since 2019. Lieutenant Olynyk was briefly assigned to the Administration Division as a detective in 2019. He was promoted to Sergeant in January 2020 and returned to the Patrol Division. In April 2021 Lieutenant Olynyk was assigned back to the Administration Division where he served as Sergeant of Administration and Training. In January 2023 the MTPD Training Department expanded to become its own division and he became the Training Sergeant at that time. He will now serve as Training Lieutenant.
Brian Taylor graduated from Seton Hall University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He was sworn in by the Monroe Township Police Department on January 2, 2014, assigned to the Patrol Division. During his time in the Patrol Division, Sergeant Taylor was a Field Training Officer and became the department’s Domestic Violence Liaison. In January 2021, he was transferred to the Traffic Safety Division where he became the department’s Radar Instructor and investigated serious motor vehicle crashes.
The Monroe Township Police Department comprises 67 sworn officers. The Department consists of a detective bureau, a juvenile/youth services bureau, a domestic violence unit, a traffic safety bureau and has an officer assigned to senior citizen crime prevention.
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All media inquiries may be directed to the Monroe Township’s Public Information Director Stacey Kennedy at 732-521-4400 or