The following is an ‘Ask The Chief’ question submitted to TLS, and the Chief’s response. Email your questions for the Chief to [email protected].

Question:

Dear Chief Myer,

Thank you for this forum and for what you do to keep Lakewood safe.

What is the LPD’s relationship with the State Police?

Specifically:

1) Do they let you know before coming into town to patrol?
2) Do they come only to give tickets?
3) Does that reflect any incompetency on LPD’s behalf to issue sufficient summonses?
4) Lastly, and perhaps most important, why do I feel that it is only the township of Lakewood where they actually stakeout and hide to catch motorists?

Thank you in advance for your reply.

The Chief’s Response:

The LPD enjoys a good working relationship with the NJSP in that we work together to accomplish the safety of the public. We rely on their Bomb Squad as well as other areas of Expertise, such as the ROIC and things like their Lab and Breathalyzer unit to name just a few things.

The State police has jurisdiction all over the state of NJ, and normally do not reach out to us as they often pass through our town during the course of their patrol duties.

They come into towns to do enforcement and education on safe driving in an attempt to lower crash and fatality rates in our state which saves lives and helps keep insurance rates down.

There is no state or local mandate on the number of tickets a municipality must issue, nor does it reflect a lack of tickets issued or not as we are more than capable of issuing tickets and we receive grants and extra state funds to do so during the year.

Throughout my travels around the state I see the NJSP conducting enforcement operations in many other towns and I do not believe that they “stakeout” anyone all they have to do is drive down our busy streets to see numerous violations happening on a daily basis.

Through enforcement and education our hopes as well as theirs is to reduce accidents and fatalities in the township.

I believe that our officers do a great job in enforcing the motor vehicle laws of NJ in our town, and in-between a high call volume for service. Our men and women are some of the best in the state, and I am proud to be their chief. I support them 100 percent in making this town a safe place for our residents to live and drive in as well as those that travel through our town each and every day.

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Have a question for the Chief? Email it to [email protected]