Sparta names new police chief

SPARTA — Lt. Neil Spidaletto has been promoted to chief of police for Sparta Township, according to William Close, township manager.
"Spidaletto's more than 20 years of experience within the Sparta Township Police Depafiment brings a tremendous level of expertise to the department. He has proven himself as a respected leader throughout the department who has displayed an exceptional level of professionalism during his career in law enforcement," according to a news release from Close.
Spidaletto was born and raised in Sparta and has served the community with distinction, both and off the job, according to Close.
Spidaletto is succeeding former Chief of Police Ernie Reigstad who retired on March 1 after 28 years with the department.
Spidaletto was appointed and has been serving as acting chief of police since that time.
He will be promoted on June 2 at a department promotion ceremony to be held at Sparta High School in the auditorium at 6 p.m.
Spidaletto was hired as a patrolman with the Sparta Police Department in January 1995 and was made detective in 1999, promoted to sergeant in 2003, and then promoted again, to lieutenant in 2013.
Spidaletto holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Villanova University and a Master of Public Administration degree in Human Resources from Seton Hall University. Also, he is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.