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Administration

It is my honor to serve as Chief of Police in the Borough of Highland Park, a vibrant and diverse community with a rich history and an exciting future.

Through collaborative community policing efforts, and the pursuit of law violators, the Highland Park Police Department endeavors to keep our community safe and secure

Please take a few minutes to learn more about the Police Department’s divisions, programs, and services. You will find that our employees are a dedicated, well-trained and enthusiastic group of professionals who take pride in their work. They are ready to work with you to make your home and workplace secure and this community an even better place to live.

We welcome input and suggestions from the public regarding ways to improve our police services, crime prevention efforts, and community partnerships.

Chief Richard Abrams

Community Policing Team

Community policing is defined as a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies which support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques, to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime. Community policing relies on collaborative partnerships between the law enforcement agency and the individuals and organizations they serve to develop solutions to problems and increase trust in police; the alignment of organization management, structure, personnel, and information systems to support community partnerships and proactive problem-solving efforts must be achieved.

We emphasize the philosophy of community policing with all of our officers, but the following officers have been designated as Community Policing Officers (CPOs):

CPO Bryant Fitzgerald bfitzgerald@hpboro.com 732-572-3800 ex. 4273

CPO Mark Reefer mreefer@hpboro.com 732-572-3800 ex. 4284

CPO Oscar Cleaver ocleaver@hpboro.com 732-572-3800 ex. 4290

The Community Policing Team runs programs such as the Youth Police Academy, Coffee with a Cop, and National Night Out. If you are an individual or part of an organization and would like assistance from the Community Policing Team, please reach out! We are always looking to become more involved with the community.

Dispatch/Communications

The Highland Park Police Department has a 24 hour Communications Center staffed by trained Public Safety Dispatchers. All communications personnel are certified by the State of New Jersey to answer 911 calls for assistance and are also certified as Emergency Medical Dispatchers.

Public Safety Dispatchers additionally are responsible for dispatching the Highland Park First Aid Squad and Highland Park Fire Department.

The Highland Park Police Department would like to remind residents that 911 is only for emergency purposes.

Non emergency calls can be made to (732) 572-3800.

Detective Bureau

The primary function of the Detective Bureau is to conduct major and follow-up investigations for crimes which occur within the Borough of Highland Park. Other responsibilities include evidence collection and storage, crime scene processing, investigating juvenile offender matters, conducting narcotics investigations, sex crime investigations, and burglary/robbery investigations. The Detective Bureau is also responsible for registering Megan’s Law offenders.

Our detectives work in conjunction with outside agencies such as the FBI, Secret Service, IRS, New Jersey State Police, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department, local police agencies from NJ and other states, as well as the NJ Department of Children and Families Services on various investigations.

As always, we encourage residents to assist us by reporting crimes and serving as extra eyes and ears to provide us with information to help solve crimes. We always welcome your support in this area.

If you have information concerning a possible crime or have been a victim of a crime, please contact police dispatch at (732) 572-3800 or 9-1-1 if it is an emergency.

The Detective Bureau is commanded by:

Detective Sergeant Sean McGraw
(732) 712-2021
smcgraw@hpboro.com

The Detective Bureau is currently comprised of the following personnel:

Detective Brian O'Mara
(732) 712-2019
bomara@hpboro.com

Detective Sean Garley
(732) 572-3800 ex. 4254
sgarley@hpboro.com

Officer Joseph Nickas
(732) 572-3800 ex. 4282
jnickas@hpboro.com

Immigrant Trust Directive

When it comes to immigration enforcement, the Highland Park Police Department follows the guidelines and directives promulgated by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Such directives and guidelines have the full force of law and we are obligated to follow all of them:

Directive 2018-6 is also known as the Immigrant Trust Directive

For a summary of the directive, please click here.

Patrol

The Patrol Division is the most visible section of the police department, providing around the clock service to residents and visitors. Each law enforcement patrol officer works to protect life & property, uphold the civil rights of individuals, preserve public peace, provide citizen assistance,enforce criminal and motor vehicle laws, and respond to emergency situations. They are dedicated and committed professionals who place their lives and well being in jeopardy for the citizens of Highland Park on a daily basis

The men and women of the Patrol Division have a number of responsibilities, including: enforcing state and municipal laws and regulations designed to protect life and property, maintaining order, preventing crime, taking initial reports, interviewing witnesses and suspects, apprehending fugitives and criminals, directing traffic, and investigating accidents. Patrol officers maintain closer contact with the public than any other division within the police department.

The men and women of the Highland Park Police Department's Patrol Division take great pride in serving the citizens of Highland Park. Most often, the first person you see when you are in need of police assistance is the patrol officer.

Within a week's tour of duty, a single officer might be dispatched to investigate, or assist in, calls for: burglaries, robberies, assaults, suicidal persons, bar-room brawls, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, sexual assault, medical aid calls, noise complaints, prowlers, traffic accidents, drunk drivers, and intrusion alarms. This multi-faceted quilt constitutes the fabric of patrol work. It is important to realize that in a split second, the most inconsequential and routine activity can develop into a potentially hazardous situation. Patrol officers experience periods of little to no activity punctuated by moments of trepidation and danger.

The Patrol Division is commanded by:

Lieutenant David Soden
(732) 572-3800 Ext. 4260
dsoden@hpboro.com

Records Division

The Highland Park Police Department Records Bureau is responsible for maintaining and disseminating all Police records in compliance with the Open Public Records Act and NJ Common Law:

Criminal investigatory record are not public information. Incident verifications for insurance purposes can be issued
Arrest information can be released under certain criteria
Defendants charged with a crime or offense may request discovery through the Municipal Prosecutor under Court Rules

Records Clerk
222 South 5th Avenue
Highland Park, NJ 08904 732-572-3800 ext. 4211

Email: records@hpboro.com

Hours
Monday-Friday 8a-4p

*The clerk is usually unavailable between 11a-12p.

*It is highly recommended that you email or call first. Most transactions can fulfilled entirely through email.

What government records are accessible to the public?

Generally, all government records are accessible to the public except those that fall under the exceptions to public access set forth in OPRA. These exceptions to public accessibility standards exist because of the legal principle that citizens have a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding records in possession of a public agency; because of public safety concerns; and because of the need to insure unfettered debate, discussion, and consideration of issues inside public agencies.

Exceptions:

Autopsy reports
Victim locations
Criminal investigative records
Victim records
Credit card numbers
Division of Child Protection and Permanency (former DYFS) information
Social security numbers
Electronic surveillance
Unlisted telephone numbers
Fingerprint cards
Drivers’ license numbers
Juvenile records
Domestic violence data
Safety of persons or public

Additional Information and Fees

Please allow at least five days from the time the police took the report before requesting a copy from the Records Bureau.

Online reports are available any time of the day or night. Reports are also available in person at the Police Department during the above listed hours.

NJ Government Records Council Website

OPRA Request Form:

https://www.hpboro.com/home/showpublisheddocument/5079/638605257660570000

Accident Report Form-To self-report crashes not investigated by the police to the state. See instructions on form as to whom to mail to:

Accident Report Form

There are times when police, fire, or EMS may be dispatched to a location but ultimately a report is not generated. If you are seeking a Computer Aided Dispatch entry of such an incident, our shared services agreement with Rutgers University requires that you request such records through them. Please click on the following link.

Pedestrian Crosswalk

Traffic Bureau

The Traffic Bureau is responsible for a wide variety of tasks, including the supervision of school crossing guards. The bureau additionally addresses any traffic concerns which residents may have by coordinating high visibility enforcement details and tracking traffic volume and speeds with instrumentation. Additional responsibilities include: