Gloucester Township Police Chief Thanks Community for Support

Gloucester Township Police Chief Harry Earle issued the following statement about the police department’s participation in the National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.) on Friday:

“As the Chief of Police, I am proud of all the men and women of the Gloucester Township Police Department for the role they have played in developing a positive relationship with the community. The many efforts of our officers have resulted in positive and tremendous contacts with many residents of Gloucester Township. Our Citizen Police Academy, Junior Police Academy, social service programs, school education programs, school resource officers, Shop With A COP, National Night Out event, Neighborhood Watch Groups, and many others have helped us build the relationship that is so greatly necessary between the police and the community. Gloucester Township Police Officers have accomplished all of this while responding to nearly 55,000 calls for service this year in an effort to keep the residents of Gloucester Township even safer. Additionally, during the course of this year, eleven officers were assaulted during their performance of their duties.

“Throughout the past several weeks I have spoken with many Gloucester Township Police Officers who have been approached and thanked for their service by so many members of the public. Community members have offered a handshake, wished officers well, and hoped for their safety. I too have been thanked and offered a handshake on numerous occasions. There have also been a number of messages sent via email thanking officers for their service. In my more than twenty-six year career I have never experienced or heard of such appreciation for law enforcement.

“I believe that such appreciation for members of the Gloucester Township Police Department is the result of both the hard and difficult work officers do everyday, and the relationship that has been built by not only the police but also the community itself. Police-Community partnerships do not occur solely because of police action but because of a community that is engaged with the police. We are so fortunate that we have a community that has so greatly engaged with its police department.

“I hope that on this Friday, Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, you have a sense of appreciation for members of the Gloucester Township Police Department. Please know that exemplary service or praise about any police employee or the department in general can be sent to us at anytime by sending an email to police@gtpolice.com Of course, if you have a concern regarding the performance of an employee, you may also contact the Professional Standards Bureau (Internal Affairs) directly by calling 856-374-3507 or sending an email to professionalstandards@gtpolice.com

“Thank you for your support, and thank you for working together in making Gloucester Township even safer.”