Westfield Chief 'Extremely Proud' After Gunman Arrest

WESTFIELD, NJ - The repercussions of the arrest of a 46-year-old Bear, Del. man armed with a handgun and more than 130 rounds of ammunition outside of a Westfield elementary school last week are still being felt. But according to Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro, it could have been much worse.

In a letter to his officers posted to social media on Monday, Battiloro said the motives behind Thomas Wilkie's appearance at the school may never be know, but that "the worst was entirely possible."

Wilkie was charged Friday with second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, fourth-degree possession of hollow-point bullets, and fourth-degree trespassing on school grounds, according to acting Union County Prosecutor Jennifer Davenport. On Monday, prosecutors tacked on third-degree possession of a firearm in or upon the grounds of an educational institution.

Battiloro's full letter is below:

"To All Members of the Westfield Police Department,

On Thursday, June 13, 2019, at approximately 1553 hours, the Westfield Police Department responded 10 Tamaques School located at 641 Willow Grove Road, Westfield NJ 07090 in an attempt to locate an individual "in crisis." He was reportedly in a vehicle and possibly in possession or a firearn.

Officers Jeffrey Johnson and Michael Pollock subsequently located the individual in question. He was seated in a parked vehicle, directly opposite the school's main entrance, and he was armed with a .45 caliber handgun fully loaded with hollow point bullets.

The subject was disarmed and taken into custody by Officers Johnson and Pollock without incident. Two additional fully loaded magazines were located on his person and on additional 130 rounds of ammunition were later located in the vehicle's trunk.

While the normal school day had already ended, some 30 children were still present on the school premises in an aftercare program. Each was taken into protective custody while the interior and exterior of the school was searched for additional weapons and/or other possible evidence.

While the explicit purpose of this subject's presence at Tamaques School may never be known for sure, I think we can all infer the worst was entirely possible.

I wish to commend all of those officers, detectives and supervisors who responded to this incident. I am certain that your brave and courageous actions thwarted any chance of tragedy and ensured the safely and well-being of all those children.

I am extremely proud of each and every one of you. Please know that it is an extreme honor for me to serve as your Chief and to call you my brother and sister officers.

Sincerely,

Christopher Battiloro
Westfield Police Department"

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