See Year's Achievements In Stafford Police Annual Report

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Department promotions, awards and notable crimes - these are all available for your perusal in the 2023 Annual Report released Thursday by the Stafford Township Police Department.

The 55-page report, which you can read online here, goes into detail about what the department achieved in the past year: not just solving crimes but training highlights and community engagement, too.

"This report summarizes the Stafford Township Police Department and highlights both the quality and level of service we provide to our community and to all our stakeholders," the now-retired Chief Tom Dellane writes in the report's introduction.

Details from different departments, like Traffic Safety or the Detective Bureau, show the variety of cases that police investigated in 2023.

Police noted a slight rise in retail theft cases this past year. This is due to there being a lot of large retailers just off the Garden State Parkway, making it easy for thieves to get in and out of town.

While there are many interesting crimes reported, something the department takes great pride in is their Community Policing Unit, which aims to keep "a strong bond of trust between law enforcement officials and the community we serve."

They engage the children of Stafford through events like the Hooked on Fishing tournament and National Night Out. One highlight here is the Grinch, who attempts to steal Christmas cheer from Stafford each holiday season, and then joins Santa to visit the children on fire trucks.

Read more about the department in their annual report.