Captain Ruglio was hired by the department in January 1994, and rose from patrolman to the detective bureau by 2002 and then on to lieutenant in 2011. Capt. Stephen DePoe, who is the officer in charge of the VPD since the retirement of Chief Mitchell Stern, hailed Ruglio for his involvement of a successful homicide investigation, a successful kidnapping investigation and assisting improving departmental policies and procedures. As drug problems began to rise in New Jersey’s suburbs, Ruglio helped to establish a narcotics plan for the VPD. Ruglio, who is president of the Verona chapter of the Italian-American service organization UNICO, was also instrumental in creating the Verona PBA’s political action committee.
“Throughout Mike’s career he has always been capable of handling critical incidents and high stress calls,” DePoe said. “Mike has played leadership roles in chaotic situations such as armed barricaded subjects in domestic violence situations and armed emotionally disturbed individuals who have posed deadly threats to Mike and his squad. Mike has recently showed his leadership in a recent vehicular homicide tragedy where the suspect was apprehended quickly allowing the victim’s family to have closure. He has been honored with an award by the Essex County 200 Club, an organization that supports the dependents of fallen officers, for the role he played on a domestic violence call where a suspect charged at him with two large chef knives.”
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Throughout his career, Dave has also assisted the Detective Bureau with numerous criminal and narcotics investigations,” DePoe said. “He has attended numerous training classes, and has received multiple commendations and awards.” DePoe also noted that Wardrope also helped coordinate the recent PBA Strongman Competition Fundraiser, which helped to raise money for the renovation of Verona High School’s fitness center.
