50 Years of Service: Twp. Police Celebrate Founding of Department

The Washington Township Police Department turns 50 this week and is celebrating with the entire community.

On Saturday, Sept. 13 from 3 to 5 p.m., the department will host a ceremony at its headquarters at 1 East Springtown Road, rain or shine, to honor the department and all those who have served it in the last half-century.

At the end of World War II about 19 volunteers patrolled Washington Township to keep order. But as time went on and the population expanded, so did the need for enhanced law enforcement. In 1964, according to the police department, New Jersey State Police gave notice to the township that it would need to provide its own law enforcement agency.

Two founding members of the agency were Chief Charles Wall and patrolman George Kluetz. Again, as time went on and the population grew, the department grew in size and became a 24-hour, seven days-a-week operation. By 1977 the department grew to 15 officers, then to 18 in 1982. At that time, police headquarters and the communications center was housed in a Cape Cod-style building on West Mill Road.

Kluetz became the department’s Chief and executive officer for 23 years before retiring in 1995. Ted Ehrenburg succeeded Kluetz and oversaw yet another expansion by the department when its headquarters was moved to 1 East Springtown Road in 1998. Washington Township’s population ballooned to 16,000 and the department now was made up of 26 officers.

In 2006, Ehrenburg retired after 28 years of service and was succeeded by current Chief Michael Bailey, just the fourth head of the department in 50 years.

“As we enter our 50th anniversary we have faced a changing economic climate and significant diversity within our community,” the police department said in a statement. “Current staffing is at twenty eight officers and our population exceeds 19,000 residents. With committed leadership, teamwork, and tenacity the department has maintained professional standards and worked hard to make Washington Township one of the safest communities within the state.”

All residents are welcomed to attend the two-hour ceremony, which will include tours of the police department and the opportunity to meet the township’s officers. Seating is limited and attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs.