The Lakewood Police Department today was honored with a dedication ceremony and special display of its 12 Police Chiefs and 13 Fallen Officers at the Sheldon Wolpin Historical Museum, Pine Park.
The 12 Lakewood Police Chiefs include 1st Chief Charles Crane; 2nd Chief Richard Beebe; 3rd Chief Charles Norcross; 4th Chief Walter Curtis; 5th Chief Russell Groff; 6th Chief Walter Comstock; 7th Chief William Poole; 8th Chief Stephen Belitrand; 9th Chief Michael Prisco; 10th Chief Michael Lynch; 11th Chief Robert Lawson; and 12th Chief Gregory H. Meyer.
The 13 Fallen Officers are Hartley Richter, Robert Woolley, Edward Lampert, Nino Pugliese, Stephen Nickens Sr., Joseph Johnson Sr., Walter Kerr, Leonard Bostick, William Preslar, Christopher Matlosz, Craig Lawson, Nicklas Shimonovich, and Joseph Goertz.
Shrage Pinter, local businessman and Dean of a Jewish religious school, displayed the 1941 Oldsmobile dedicated to Unity in the Community. This memorial car displays the names of the officers who have passed on the door panels and includes an official police shield.
The officiant of the ceremony was Captain Gregory Stafford-Smith. The program began with the presentation of the Lakewood Police Honor Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance led by Police Commissioner Meir Lichtenstein, the Star Spangled Banner by Cori Scotti, and opening remarks by Chief Gregory H. Meyer.
The ceremony featured remarks by Lakewood Mayor Raymond Coles; Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer; Gary Quinn, Commissoner of Ocean County Board of Commissioners; Dr. Stan Liptzin, Lakewood Historical Society President; and William “Bill” Curtis, Mayor of Bayhead, Retired Detective Steve Wexler, Chairman of the Lakewood Heritage Commission, spoke about Lakewood’s Police Chiefs; and Police Chief Gregory H. Meyer spoke about the Fallen Officers.
The program concluded with Closing Remarks by Retired Chief Robert Lawson;
Closing Prayer by Chaplain Rabbi Ehrman, Taps by Robert Lawrence and Joseph Baum, the BAA (Buglers Across America), and Bag Pipes by Robert Sinnott.
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