Chief Investigator Michael Melchionne
Chief Animal Control Officer and Animal Cruelty Investigator

Chief Investigator Melchionne started his career 1975.  He has been an animal control officer for over36 years. He attended the first Animal Control Officers class in 1983 as well as the first Animal Cruelty Investigators Course in 2001. In 1985 he founded and was the first President of the New Jersey Certified Animal Control Officers Association and currently serves as their Executive Board Advisor/Spoke Person. Chief Melchionne attended and graduated from the Passaic County Police Academy as a Class II Special Police Officer. Investigator Melchionne attended John Hopkins University and holds a certificate for "Non-Profit Business and Management". He served as the Director of Animal Welfare Services for St Hubert’s Giralda. Investigator Melchionne then designed, implemented, and managed the Gloucester County Animal Control Program and Animal Shelter Operations. He presently serves as Chief Animal Control Officer/Animal Cruelty Investigator for Stafford Township managing a staff of three full time and three part time ACO’s covering 5 local jurisdictions. Chief Melchionne has been appointed by two New Jersey Governors to serve on two State councils/task forces. Among his numerous NJ State certifications he is a certified Police Academy Instructor under the NJ Police Training Commission. Chief Melchionne volunteered and spent 10 days in Louisiana after Katrina rescuing animals left by their owners. Investigator Melchionne sits on several boards of directors including as an advisor to the NJ Animal Welfare Federation. Chief Melchionne owns several cats, a Brittany spaniel (all rescue's); and owns a working organic farm in Pennsylvania with numerous rescued animals. Chief Investigator Melchionne is considered the "GO TO" person for NJ Animal Control Officer and Animal Cruelty Investigator Issues.

William J. Zaorski, J.D.
Deputy Attorney General of the N.J. Division of Criminal Justice (retired)

Mr. Zaorski, a recently retired deputy attorney general of the N.J. Division of Criminal Justice, developed the instructor resource material on Use of Force, Search and Seizure and other criminal law subjects taught in all police academies in the State. He has taught Use of Force, Search and Seizure and other subjects in courses conducted by the Division of Criminal Justice. He has lectured on search and seizure and other criminal law subjects at training programs for law enforcement officers throughout the State. He has developed special seminars on such topics as: Street Encounters of All Kinds; Legal Aspects of Interrogation 202; The Many Faces of Probable Cause’ Anatomy of a Search Warrant Affidavit; Investigating a Domestic Violence Case He is a graduate of Seton Hall Law School and is a member of the State bar. He served a clerkship with the N. J. Appellate Division. He attended the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Law Institute. He was an Assistant Prosecutor in Monmouth County. He is a practitioner of Aikido, a Japanese martial art.

William M. Kelly
Deputy Chief, Elizabeth Police Department (retired)

William M.  Kelly attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan, New York.  There he earned an Associate Degree in Police Science and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.  He went on to receive his Master's in Public Administration at Rutgers University in New Jersey.  Mr. Kelly is also a graduated of the FBI National Academy in Quantico Virginia.   After serving in the US Army in Germany as a Specialist 4th Class, Mr. Kelly joined the Elizabeth Police Department.  Serving as Commander of the Patrol, Narcotic and Detective Divisions, he has a wide range of experience in all aspects of law enforcement.  Mr. Kelly was selected to be commander of the Union County Narcotic Strike Force upon his graduation from the FBI Academy.   Mr. Kelly also served for 12 years as an adjunct professor at Kean University in the Criminal Justice Department.  Upon his retirement after 32 years with the Elizabeth Police Department, where he achieved the rank of Deputy Chief, Chief Kelly took a position with the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice.   At the Division of Criminal Justice his responsibilities included, management studies of various Police Departments,   Curriculum Development, and was the lead instructor in six courses offered at the Division to include: Sexual Harassment, Interview and Interrogation,  Training Management,  Community Policing,  Field Training Officer and Methods of Instruction. Chief Kelly also served for 2 years with the New Jersey State Police Street Gang Unit as the Training Coordinator. Mr. Kelly has a13 year old Himalayan cat named Annie.

                                                                                                                                    
 John C. Saccenti
President, Founder and Chief Educator for CDI

Mr. Saccenti attended Fordham University where he received his Bachelors in Education, Masters in Education and Political Science as well as his Educational Specialist Degree. After service as an Army officer and special assignments with the FBI, Mr. Saccenti served as a teacher and administrator before working with the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice. Before his retirement from that agency, his primary responsibility was the development of all Basic Law Enforcement Training. His work included the design and writing of the Basic Course for Investigators, the redesign and writing of the Basic Course for Police Officers and other major basic and advanced law enforcement courses. Mr. Saccenti served as President of the National Association of Local Boards of Health and advised the US Surgeon General and the White House on public health policy. He has served as a consultant to the Office of the Attorney General, Office of Counter-Terrorism. He currently serves as a consultant to the United States Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime. Mr. Saccenti is also available as a consultant to eligible organizations through grants offered by the Department of Justice. Mr. Saccenti is a nationally known speaker on public health, law enforcement and training development and management. Mr. Saccenti is the author of many articles on both law enforcement training and public health and served as an adjunct professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Bergen County College. Mr. Saccenti is an advisory board member of the Animal Federation of New Jersey (AWFNJ).

Michael Richmond, J. D.

Michael Richmond has been a practicing attorney in New Jersey for thirty years. He was a Municipal Prosecutor for more than 23 years serving numerous municipalities. He has represented hundreds of defendants in Municipal Court as a private counsel and Public Defender. Mr. Richmond is considered to be one of the foremost practitioners of Municipal Court practice. He co-authored the book, Municipal Court Handbook, published by Gann Law Books.

In addition to his prosecutorial work, Mr. Richmond has significant expertise and experience practicing elder as well as bankruptcy law. He is a participant in the American Association of Retired Persons Association.

Mr. Richmond earned a bachelor of arts from Lafayette College in 1970 and his Doctor Of Jurisprudence from the University of Kansas in 1973. He was admitted to the bar in 1973.

His numerous professional memberships include the Middlesex County Municipal (where he was vice president), Middlesex County Bar Association, New Jersey State Bar Association , American Bar Association , the American Trial Lawyers Association, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, National College for DUI Defense, Inc. and the American Association of Retired Persons Legal Services Network

Mr. Richmond also has received the American Jurisprudence Award (Real Property).

Greg O’Connor

Founder and Chief Instructor, Aikido Centers Inc., 1992-Present

Greg O’Connor is the founder and chief instructor of Aikido Centers of New Jersey (ACNJ) . Greg is a professional Aikido Instructor with 35 years experience in Aikido—a Japanese close-quarters throwing, pinning and come-along art. Greg’s background in martial arts also includes expertise in such disciplines as Japanese-Okinawan karate, Japanese sword (Iaido), Japanese bow (Kyudo) as well as traditional wrestling and grappling.

As one of the top ranking Aikido professionals in the United States and abroad, Greg has an excellent reputation and is widely respected for both his Aikido skills and teaching abilities. For over 35 years now Greg has trained and advised all levels of law enforcement including New Jersey Municipal and County Police, New Jersey State Police, New Jersey Corrections Officers, Parole Officers, Undercover Officers, Diplomatic Security, U.S. Secret Service as well as U.S. Military, private security and first responders.

Greg has authored two books: The Aikido Student Handbook (1993 - North Atlantic Books/Frog Ltd) and The Elements of Aikido (1997 - Element Books/Harper Collins/Create Surge).