Chief DeVaul Remembered: Parking, Memorial Information For Friday

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The community will honor the life of Maplewood Police Chief Jimmy DeVaul, who died suddenly at the age of 53, at a memorial service Friday.

Police say to expect heavy delays during Friday's memorial service and procession. There is also a viewing Thursday night from 4-8 p.m. that will bring delays — click here to read more.

DeVaul, who became chief in 2018, was remembered as a leader who helped push the department towards more transparency and a better relationship with the community. He joined the Maplewood Police Department in 1993.

His cause of death has not been released. Deputy Police Chief Albert Sally was named acting police chief after DeVaul was hospitalized earlier this month.

Friday's procession will escort DeVaul's body to Town Hall for an 11:30 memorial service.

The procession will leave the Jacob A. Holle funeral home and travel north on Valley Street. The Essex County Pipes and Drums will join the procession at Valley and Baker streets, then come to the front steps of Town Hall.

Town Hall will be closed from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. During the procession, Valley Street will be closed between Millburn and Parker Avenues.

People can watch the procession on the sidewalk of Valley Street between Millburn and Oakview Avenues, police said. Residents may also attend the ceremony on the north field of Memorial Park, across from the town hall (574 Valley Street).

When the procession is at Town Hall, the road closure will condense to Valley Street between Baker and Oakland Road with a soft closure at Columbia High School, police said.

Maplewood Police recommend the following streets for parking:

• Oakland Road from Valley to Oakland Terrace
• North Crescent and South Crescent
• Courter Avenue
• Oakview Avenue from Prospect to Oakland
• Burnett Terrace from Prospect to Oakland
• Madison Avenue from Prospect to Burnett Terrace
• Plymouth Avenue
• Lincoln Place
• Kensington Terrace
• North Terrace

After the memorial service, there will be temporary road closures while the procession passes several Maplewood locations significant to DeVaul. Police did not specify where these closures will be.

DeVaul died at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest in Allentown on October 21, his obituary says.

He was born in Long Island, N.Y. and grew up in Bath, Pa. DeVaul grew up in Maplewood, graduating from Columbia High School in 1987. He lived in Hackettstown for some time before moving to Bath with his wife. They were married in 2013.

His family asks that donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital be made in lieu of flowers.

DeVaul's obituary says he is survived by his wife Krista Vogrin DeVaul, whom he married in 2013, and five children: Jeramy DeVaul, Alexandria McGowan, Nicholas DeLucy, Thomas DeLucy, and Kevin McGowan.

"Jimmy deeply loved his family, was a passionate drummer in his free time, and enjoyed vacationing and relaxing on the beach in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he and his wife were married," his obituary says.