(WHITE TOWNSHIP, NJ – February 8, 2023) – William “Bill” Hunt, who recently retired as Warren County’s Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, was honored by the Board of County Commissioners for his four decades of service.
“Thank you for your service in law enforcement and for helping us be prepared for whatever comes our way. We truly appreciate it,” Commissioner Director Lori Ciesla told Hunt as the commissioners presented him with a proclamation recognizing his lengthy career.
Hunt held the Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator position in the county Public Safety Department since 2011, and previously served as the County Emergency Management Planner from 2008-2011 and as the Domestic Preparedness Planner from 2005-2008. Prior to his employment with Warren County, he spent more than 25 years with the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office where he was an Investigator, Lieutenant, Detective Captain, and Counter-Terrorism Coordinator.
“Over 40 years of public safety experience, that’s unbelievable,” Commissioner Jason J. Sarnoski said.
“Law enforcement and public safety is not an easy job, especially in today’s environment,” Sarnoski noted, adding, “Bill has done it admirably for well over 40 years.” To have amassed such a distinguished record, with awards and recognition over the years is “a testimony to who he is as a person and what he’s done for our community,” Sarnoski said.
Commissioner James R. Kern III quipped that in his former role as a mayor, Bill Hunt's name was one that municipal officials “never wanted to see, either something bad was happening or you were preparing for something bad.” Kern said that Hunt worked to prepare Warren County for disasters, weather events, crime and more, making sure the county was ready “for the unthinkable.”
County Public Safety Director Frank Wheatley said that Hunt assembled a great team to serve the county, adding, “I would put our emergency management program against any other in the state.”
“It’s been an honor and a privilege serving everyone in Warren County,” said Hunt, who was accompanied by his wife, Debbie, to the County Commissioners meeting for the proclamation presentation.
Warren County Commissioners Jason J. Sarnoski, Director Lori Ciesla, and James R. Kern III present a proclamation to William Hunt, accompanied by his wife, Debbie.
HONORING WILLIAM HUNT ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
JANUARY 25, 2023
WHEREAS, William “Bill” Hunt recently retired from the position of Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator for the County of Warren, a position he held since 2011; and
WHEREAS, Bill Hunt previously served Warren County as the County Emergency Management Planner from 2008-2011 and as the Domestic Preparedness Planner from 2005-2008, and prior to his employment with Warren County had a long and distinguished career in law enforcement, including more than 25 years with the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office where he was an Investigator, Lieutenant, Detective Captain, and Counter-Terrorism Coordinator; and
WHEREAS, while employed by Warren County, Bill Hunt had many duties and worked on many Public Safety projects with distinction, including the All Hazards Mitigation Planning project, the “Mobilizing for Action through Planning Partnership (MAPP) Coalition, the county Public Health Emergency Planning Task Force, and the Continuity of Operations Planning Continuity of Government (COOP/COG) effort; and
WHEREAS, Bill Hunt served Warren County as the Reverse 911 Administrator, the Emergency Management Assistance Compact Coordinator, the New Jersey Resource Director Database Coordinator, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Coordinator, and the Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT) Coordinator; and
WHEREAS, among his many responsibilities, Bill Hunt was responsible for obtaining and managing millions of dollars of grants for Warren County over the years, including the Homeland Security grants and Regional Interoperability grants;
WHEREAS, Bill Hunt was also a very influential member of the Executive Board of the County Emergency Management Coordinators Association where he assisted the New Jersey State Police in setting statewide Emergency Management Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, through all his years of county employment Bill Hunt has been a helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable public servant.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Warren County Board of County Commissioners honors Bill Hunt for his numerous years of distinguished service, congratulates him on his retirement, and wishes him many happy years enjoying this next chapter of his life.
Lori Ciesla, Director
James R. Kern III, Deputy Director
Jason J. Sarnoski, Commissioner
Board of County Commissioners