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Professional Standards Bureau

The Professional Standards Division is tasked with ensuring that all members of the police department perform their duties in accordance with all applicable statutes, guidelines, rules, regulations, policies, procedures and current industry standards. The Division is responsible for accreditation, planning and research, and training.

Lt. Taylor Holba #92

Lt. Taylor Holba began his law enforcement career in 2008 at the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department.  In 2012 he became a member of the Burlington Township Police Department.  Prior to his career in law enforcement, Lt. Holba was a Sergeant in the NJ Air National Guard (2001-2013).  Lt. Holba was assigned to the Patrol Bureau from 2012 to 2019.  During that time, he was a member of the Traffic Safety Unit and Adopt a Cop Program as well as a Field Training Officer.  In 2019, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served as a supervisor for 3 years in the Patrol Bureau prior to his assignment to the Professional Standards Bureau. In July 2023, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. The Professional Standards Bureau was reorganized as a Division and Lt. Holba was given command. Lt. Holba is also a Firearms Instructor and supervises the Firearms Unit.  Lt. Holba was formerly the President of Burlington Township FOP Lodge #84.

 For questions related to the department's professional standards function, please contact Lt. Holba via email at tholba92@burltwppd.com.

Firearms Unit

The Firearms Unit is comprised of 1 Lieutenant and 4 Patrol Officers.  The members of the unit are all certified Firearms Instructors for Handguns, Shotguns and Patrol Rifles.  The unit is tasked with training and qualifying all members of the department biannually in each of the weapons.  Two members of the Firearms Unit are also the department armorers.  They are responsible for maintenance and repairs on the department issued weapons.

 

Training - Sergeant Michael Casella #90

Sgt. Mike Casella began his law enforcement career in 2001 at the New Jersey Department of Corrections. In 2008 he became a member of the Burlington Township Police Department.  Sgt. Casella was assigned to the Patrol Bureau from 2008 to 2016.  While in patrol he was a member of the Bicycle Patrol Unit and the Adopt a Cop Program. Additionally, he served as a Field Training Officer training many of our current officers.

In 2016, he was assigned to the Detective Bureau working several major cases in and around Burlington Township. In 2018, while assigned to the Detective Bureau he was selected as the Burlington Township Officer of the Year. In 2019, Sgt. Casella joined the Community Resource Bureau as a School Resource Officer where he was assigned to the B. Bernice Young School, Fountain Woods School, and BTMS. As a member of the Community Resource Bureau and School Resource Officer, he has taught the Great Program, the Citizens Police Academy, and also helped with the Youth Emergency Services Academy.

At the end of 2022, Sgt. Casella was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned the Patrol Bureau Squad 3 Supervisor.  In June 2024, Sgt. Casella was assigned to the Professional Standards Bureau as the Training Sergeant. He is a Defensive Tactics Instructor and Taser Instructor. In his off time, Sgt. Casella enjoys spending time with his family, vacationing, and riding motorcycles. 

Training Unit

The Training Unit's purpose is to develop, implement, and track all of the department’s training programs, to include field training, mandatory in-service training, roll call training, continuing education training, etc. This unit is also responsible for assigning members of this department to attend educational courses offered by outside entities. Upcoming courses being hosted by Burlington Twp. Police Dept. can be found here.

 

Accreditation

CALEA Accreditation

CALEA, or The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., is a National credentialing authority, based in the United States, whose primary mission is to accredit public safety agencies, namely law enforcement agencies, training academies, communications centers, and campus public safety agencies.  The CALEA Accreditation process focuses on standards that provide best practices related to life, health, and safety procedures for the Burlington Township Police Department.  The program provides a framework for addressing high risk issues within a contemporary environment, and ensures officers are prepared to meet basic community service expectations and prepared to manage critical events.

The Burlington Township Police Department received its initial accreditation on March 25, 2000. Since then, it has been reaccredited 7 times (every 3 years).  During the reaccreditation process, a team of law enforcement professionals perform an on-site inspection and evaluation of the agency.  The Burlington Township Police Department is 1 of only 22 CALEA accredited agencies in the State of New Jersey, and 1 of just 8 Municipal Law Enforcement Agencies.

For questions related to the department's Accreditation, please contact Lt. Holba at 609-386-2019.

 

 

 

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