HACKENSACK -- The city swore in two new police officers Tuesday, including the department's first Muslim member.

Mohammad Sheikh, 24, joins the department after four years in Paterson, where he was among 125 officers laid off last April.

Frank McCall, 36, is transferring from Union City, where he has served since he was laid off in Newark last June.

Both officers said they hoped to add to the department's diversity.

Sheikh, who speaks Arabic and was born in Palestine, said he wanted to serve as a liaison between the city and its Muslim population. (More)