Lieutenant Paul Ottavinia was hired in July 2004 and completed his basic training in December at the Morris County Police Academy. Prior to this, Paul graduated from Mt. Olive High School, attended Seton Hall on a baseball scholarship, and enjoyed a ten year professional baseball career before deciding to pursue a career in law enforcement. He spent time in the Montreal Expos, NY Yankees and Texas Rangers organizations at the AAA level. After graduation from the academy, he was assigned to the patrol division as a patrolman for 8.5 years. As a patrolman he became a firearms instructor and a field training officer. During that time he received numerous awards, including a 200 Club Valor Award for the saving of a hostage and verbal disarming of an armed male during a “suicide by cop” incident in 2010. In 2013 he was assigned to a Corporal position in the patrol division, and also joined the Morris County Regional Swat team. He became a team leader in 2015 on the Swat team, and served in that capacity until 2018. In July of 2017, Paul was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and was assigned as a Patrol Sergeant. In June of 2020, he was re-assigned in the patrol division as the Division Assistant Commander. He was promoted to Lieutenant of Support Services in January of 2021.
