Lacey Police Chief Stepping Down On Aug. 1

by Patricia A. Miller

Lacey Township Police Chief David A. Paprota announced Tuesday that he will be retiring as chief on Aug. 1.

"I am confident that with continuing community support moving forward, the police department and Lacey Township will progress to all new heights," Paprota said in a statment.

Paprota was sworn in on December 1, 2012. and also serves as the township's Emergency Management Coordinator.

"Over the past three and a half years, I have been privileged to oversee a transition and cultural change in the police department which has translated to very noticeable exceptional and consistent performance in the field," he said. With the tremendous support and engagement of the community the police department has experienced, we as a township have seen the crime rate drop significantly."

Residential and commercial burglaries fell significantly from a high of 119 in 2012, to a low of 43 in 2015. Thefts have dropped from a high of 684 in 2012 to a low of 334 in 2015.

"The drop in crime is attributable to numerous factors, with no single factor being responsible," the chief said. "The officers of the Lacey Township Police Department have engaged in an "All in" approach throughout both the uniformed patrol division and the detectives. The primary focus has been on drug interdiction and individual accountability."

Lacey police have also increased the number of arrests made in a year since 2013. There have been over 900 arrests in 2015, Paprota said.

"This is up from the norms of the years prior to 2013, when arrests tended to be below 300 per year," he said. "The increase in arrests is directly attributable to a philosophy of accountability based on the premise that if someone enters Lacey Township and commits a crime, they will be arrested and charged."

Lacey is "well ahead" of others to first recognize the heroin epidemic, the chief said.

"Lacey Township has one of the youngest demographic makeups of the municipalities in Ocean County," the chief said. "Being a "young" town and squarely fitting in the demographic of concern for heroin abuse, Lacey Township has faced the same challenges as the rest of the nation."

The heroin problem will continue across the country, as drugs flow in from across United States borders. borders," Paprota said."Furthermore, Fentanyl, a much stronger synthetic form of the drug, is becoming more prevalent and will likely exacerbate the issue on a national level in the months and years to come."

Overdoses in Lacey have dropped more than 20 percent since 2012 and overdose deaths have dropped 30 percent, the chief said.

"While any overdoses or deaths related to overdoses are too many, it is important to recognize that some strides are being made overall to deal with the problem locally," Paprota said. "The members of the Lacey Township Police Department recognize that drug interdiction is at the core of the issue and will continue to proactively enforce the laws related to drug distribution and possession."

Paprota will also resign as the township's Emergency Management Coordinator on June 1, a position he has held since July 2, 2015. "State law does not allow him to continue in the position after his retirement date, he said

"The June 1, 2016, resignation date will give me two months to work with a new coordinator," the chief said.

The Office of Emergency Management now has 12 volunteers and staff members with specific functions in the event of an emergency. The Emergency Operations Plan for the township has been revised. Lacey now has several high-water evacuation vehicles which were acquired through the federal military surplus program, Paprota said.

"I thank everyone in the community for their support over the past three and a half years," he said.

He will remain involved in the Lacey Municipal Police Foundation and youth events after he retires, Paprota said.

Photo credit: Lacey Township Police Department