A Historical Overview

In the Beginning
           Until the mid 1950’s, police service for the residents of Manalapan Township was provided exclusively by the New Jersey State Police. In those early days, Manalapan was an entirely rural community. Beginning in 1954, a relatively small portion of police authority and responsibility was performed by lifelong Manalapan residents, William Saupe, Charles White, Andrew Ned and William McGantlin. These men, while not official police officers, were more like civilian constables who would provide part-time police service with arrest powers as was afforded under existing law.  Working alone in their own personal vehicles, they would cover Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and were in a 24-hour “on-call” status for the rest of the week. They would assist, and be assisted by the State Police, who remained the primary police agency having jurisdictional authority in Manalapan, providing constant and full time coverage for the community.
 

  On March 29, 1962, the governing body of Manalapan established an ordinance that provided for the creation of its own official police department. Less than three months later, on June 5’, Mr. Saupe and Mr. Ned were sworn in as Special Police Officers. Mr. McGantlin was sworn in as Manalapan’s first Chief of Police. This was acceptable under Township Ordinance at that time. By 1970, however, New Jersey State law would supersede this ordinance, requiring higher standards that essentially no longer recognized these men as duly sworn and appointed officers of the law. Held to compliance, the Manalapan governing body was required to recreate, or otherwise re-establish its police department. Nevertheless, these aforementioned original police officers would continue to offer assistance to the police department for years to come in a type of auxiliary capacity. William Saupe, in particular, would continue to provide a variety of services until his retirement in 1985, at which time he served as the Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police.

Dawn of a New Era
On April 17, 1970, Thomas Wallace, a Marlboro Township Detective with four years of police experience, was hired to head the newly established Manalapan Police Department with the rank of Sergeant. Also hired along with Wallace were several other officers who came from a variety of nearby local police departments, which gave the force an initial compliment of ten officers, The force was headquartered on Wickatunk Road, in what once was a barn, but renovated and remodeled to accommodate this “new” police department.. Due to an insufficient number of police officers, the department was unable to provide 24 hour, round-the-clock coverage at that time. From midnight until 8 AM, the State Police provided police service to the community.

Early in 1971, Sergeant Wallace was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. With the hiring of additional officers, full-time 24-hour coverage began on April 17th! of the same year. The midnight shift was often staffed by a single patrol officer in those days.. The State Police would therefore continue to provide police service to the community until 1975. In these early years, the State Police and Manalapan Police assisted each other until the Manalapan force would grow large enough to provide police coverage on their own.. Jurisdiction was shared by both agencies so that the public would be adequately served.

 March 9, 1972, Lieutenant Wallace was sworn in as the Chief of Police of what then was a fifteen-man department!! In 1975, the State Police vacated their barracks within the township, as the size of the Manalapan Police Department . had become large enough to provide service exclusively. Manalapan Police relocated its headquarters to the vacated State Police barracks, a structure that is the current Senior Citizen’s Center on Route 522.

Growth and Development
By June of 1980, the department consisted of 32 sworn officers, 7 civilian employees, and provided service for a population which had grown to over 20,000 citizens. In 1983, a new municipal complex was constructed, and the department again moved its headquarters to where it is today.

Up until 1982, the department functioned without a Detective Bureau, and a Traffic Safety Bureau was not established until September of 1991!! Under the Chief was a Captain of the Administration! Division and a Captain of the Operations Division,. The rest of the entire force was engaged in patrol activity as part of the Operations Division. These patrol officers would conduct all criminal and traffic investigations. Despite an absence of special divisions and units, as the department is structured today, the Manalapan Police force earned and enjoyed a reputation of competence and ability.
 

In 1986, the department hired its first female police officer, Currently, the department has a compliment of four female police officers, the most senior of whom has recently been promoted to the rank of Sergeant, assigned to the patrol division.
 

Road to Present Day
In 1990, Chief Wallace retired and was succeeded by Jimmie Potts. After Chief Potts’ retirement in 1997, the next Chief was John McCormack, who upon his retirement in 2003, was appointed and currently serves as the Director of the Monmouth County Police Academy. Chief McCormack’s successor and current head of the department is Chief Stuart Brown, a 25-year veteran of Manalapan’s police force.
The community of Manalapan has experienced tremendous growth and development over the last two decades., The population increase and change of demographics has been dramatic, which has constantly challenged the police department to meet the related increase of new and more demands,
Today’s Manalapan Police Department is comprised of sixty-six sworn officers and sixteen civilian personnel!! The organizational structure is extensively specialized and diverse, offering the public a wide range of services by personnel that possess a good deal of technical expertise!!
Summation
In the mid 1950’s, the Manalapan Police Department was in its infancy!! A half-century has gone by since then, and while dedication and devotion to duty has always been an unwavering trademark of the police department! over this period, the department has undergone tremendous change throughout its history..
Today’s Manalapan Police force is better trained and skilled, better equipped, and is generally much more educated. The old concept and practice of “on-the-job” training has long been extinct. College is a prerequisite for police applicants, and college degrees are criteria for promotion to the higher ranks within the department.
 

Today’s Manalapan Police Department is staffed by highly skilled and talented professionals. The fundamental mission, to protect and to serve, remains the same, The manner in which this mission is achieved however, has and will continue to change. Preserving the peace and public safety is a promise that still is, and always will be the ultimate priority of the Manalapan Police Department.