Fair Haven Police Chief Retires After 39 Years Of Service

FAIR HAVEN, NJ — Fair Haven's Chief of Police has officially retired after 39 years of service.

On Monday, residents and community members alike attended a Walk Out Ceremony at the Fair Haven Police Department for Chief Joseph P. McGovern, who started his career in law enforcement in 1987.

After two years as a dispatcher for Fair Haven Police, McGovern became a Class II Special Officer with the department and started patrolling the streets of Fair Haven and helping with special details throughout the Borough.

In 1991, he was sworn in as a patrolman and began handling police matters throughout Fair Haven.

McGovern was "extremely proactive" with traffic enforcement and, more specifically, DWI enforcement, borough officials said.

After being in the police department's Patrol Division, McGovern was assigned to the Detective Bureau in 2002.

As a detective, he was involved in multiple investigations with apprehensions, including several narcotic cases, robberies and burglaries throughout the Borough and County.

McGovern also served as President of the MOCIB (Monmouth, Ocean County Intelligence Bureau) as a detective.

In 2006, he was promoted to sergeant and began supervising daily patrol operations for the Fair Haven Police Department before being promoted to lieutenant in 2008.

As a lieutenant, McGovern began taking on more of an administrative role in the department and oversaw training, scheduling and running events in town such as the Fireman’s Fair, borough officials said.

In 2012, he worked "countless hours" overseeing and navigating the Borough through Superstorm Sandy.

While Lieutenant, McGovern also attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico and graduated with class #254 in 2013.

In 2015, he was promoted to Captain and subsequently Chief in 2016.

Along with running the department as Chief of Police, McGovern was also Coordinator of the Monmouth County Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) and was the Borough’s Office of Emergency Management Coordinator.

He was "extremely instrumental" in the construction of the new home of the Fair Haven Police Department as well, borough officials said.

"Please join the men and women of the Fair Haven Police Department, the governing body of the Borough of Fair Haven and the countless Officers that Chief McGovern has trained and led throughout the county in congratulating him and his family on such a successful career," the borough said in an online post.

Following McGovern's retirement, Lt. Jesse Dykstra will step in as Fair Haven's next Chief of Police.

In an online post, Mayor Josh Halpern said farewell to McGovern and congratulated Dykstra, adding that the department "is in great hands."

"Today we gave Chief Joe McGovern the send-off he earned. 39 years in Fair Haven, from dispatcher to Chief, through Superstorm Sandy and the building of our new police headquarters," Halpern said. "I've had the privilege of working alongside Joe for more than five years as Mayor, and I can tell you this town is safer and better because of him."

"Congratulations, Chief, and thank you to your family for sharing you with us all this time," he continued. "Looking forward to the friendship long after we've both handed off our titles."