At Memorial Service, Maplewood Mourns Police Chief Who Died At 53

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood residents and police from around the state attended a memorial on Friday morning for late Police Chief Jimmy DeVaul, who died at 53 a week ago following a "medical episode."

The memorial was held on Valley Street before noon, with a procession to Town Hall. Town Hall was to be closed until 2 p.m. Friday.

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, after graduating from Columbia High School and then Union County College.

Deputy Police Chief Albert Sally was named acting police chief after DeVaul was hospitalized two weeks ago.

DeVaul died at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest in Allentown on Oct. 21, according to his obituary. He was born in Long Island, N.Y. and lived in Bath, Pa. as a child. He graduated from Columbia High School in Maplewood in 1987.

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 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.

Michelle Rotuno-Johnson contributed reporting to this story.