Lacey PD Promotes Officer, Welcomes New Cop

LACEY, NJ — Lacey police made two personnel changes last week. Detective Sam Della Sala was promoted to sergeant. Matthew D'Antonio was sworn in as Lacey's newest officer.

Della Sala Promoted

Della Sala graduated from Lacey Township High School in 2000. He enlisted soon after in the Marines and served four years on active duty in the infantry and security forces. He received numerous medals, awards and certificates of commendation for combat service as a sergeant.

He joined Lacey police in 2005 and attended the Burlington County Police Academy. Della Sala spent the next eight years in the patrol division and as part of the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team.

In 2013, Della Sala was assigned to the Detective Bureau. He spent the next three years conducting various criminal investigations. Della Sala, in 2016, was assigned to an acting sergeant position.

In spring 2017, Della Sala was assigned to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office's Narcotics Task Force. Then in August 2017, he returned to the Lacey Police Department's Drug Enforcement Unit — also known as the Special Enforcement Team. He has most recently served on narcotics investigations and related crimes.

He has extensive training in narcotics investigations, active-shooter response, ALICE and firearms. Della Sala and his wife of 18 years, Jennifer, have two children. He is now assigned as unit commander of the Lacey Police Department's Drug Enforcement Unit (S.E.T.).

New Officer

D'Antonio became Lacey's newest police officer. He was born and raised in town, graduating from Lacey Township High School in 2008 and then Ocean County College in 2010.

He enlisted in the Army in 2011 and was stationed in Fort Drum, New York. D'Antonio served as an artilleryman.

D'Antonio received an honorable discharge in 2014 and returned to Lacey. He attended Stockton University and graduated in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. The Lacey native began working as a security officer last year for Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin.

He comes from a family of first responders, including his father. Robert D'Antonio is a retired fire captain from the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Squad. Matthew's brother, Robert D'Antonio Jr., is a fire captain for the same department.

Once D'Antonio graduates from the Ocean County Police Academy, he will be assigned to the Patrol Division and enter a Field Training Officer program.

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