August 31, 2023
Lincroft, N.J. – Today, New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, and NewJersey First Assistant Attorney General Lyndsay Ruotolo, presented badges to New Jersey’s newest
state troopers during a graduation ceremony at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, N.J.
The 165ᵗʰ New Jersey State Police Class graduated 141 men and 8 women. Of this graduating class,126 have college degrees, 24 are prior military, and 27 have prior law enforcement experience.Among the class, 55 were college athletes, 2 were firefighters, 5 were emergency medical
technicians, and 1 was a professional athlete.
The class completed 24 weeks of strenuous physical and academic training consisting of classroomlessons and practical training scenarios. The recruits also participated in role-playing exercisessuch as motor vehicle stops and domestic violence situations. In the area of cultural diversity,
the class received detailed instruction from community leaders and cultural organizations.
The life of a recruit is challenging in many ways. The New Jersey State Police Training Academy isone of the few residential academies in the nation. Recruits report to the academy before dawn onMonday morning, and they do not return home until dismissal on Friday evening. Therefore, recruitsare away from their families during significant life events. During this academy class one recruit
had a child born.
The newly graduated troopers have been assigned to stations throughout the state, and over the nextfew months, they will begin their careers under the watchful eye of their Trooper-Coaches and
immediate supervisors.
“I am honored to welcome the latest class of brave and courageous State Troopers, who willundoubtedly uphold the core values of the New Jersey State Police – honor, duty, and fidelity,”said Governor Murphy. “This class is joining the thousands of State Troopers who exemplify the veryessence of New Jersey’s finest, with exceptional dedication to protecting and serving
those in our state. I look forward to witnessing the legacy they will build upon.”
“The New Jersey State Police are one of the nation’s finest law enforcement agencies and thisnewest group of Troopers has received the training and preparation necessary to continue thattradition,” said First Assistant Attorney General Lyndsay V. Ruotolo. “The class also representsthe diversity of our State. A quarter of the class is multilingual, most have collegedegrees, including one member who has a Ph. D., some are military veterans and the majority are thefirst in their families to serve in law enforcement. Their dedication to public service is aninspiration to us all and I wish them well as they begin what will undoubtedly be challenging and
meaningful careers protecting the people of New Jersey.”
“Today marks the culmination of 24 weeks of intense training for the women and men of the 165thClass as they begin their careers as New Jersey State Troopers. These new troopers will face amultitude of challenges in a forever changing environment,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan,Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “I am confident that they are prepared to serve thecommunities across this state while upholding our core values of Honor,Duty, and Fidelity. They are not only role models but, sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters fromdiverse backgrounds who are resilient and chose a profession of service, demonstrating theircommitment to selflessness. I look forward to what their futures hold as they continue to lead by
example.”
December 2, 2021
FREEHOLD, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A Monmouth County grand jury this week returned indictments against two defendants charged with crimes involving distribution and/or possession of child sexual abuse materials, bringing the total number of indictments of this kind over approximately the last month to eight, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced Thursday.
Two of the eight defendants have been charged with first-degree crimes, the most serious applicable offenses under state law.
Indicted on Tuesday were:
- Jonathan W. Cruz, 38, of Aberdeen, arrested January 2020 and indicted on charges of first-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child via Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials using a File-Sharing Program Available to Others and first-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child via Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials; and
- Neil Ridgway, 58, of Howell, arrested April 2019 and indicted on charges of third-degree Endangering via Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials.
Indicted earlier this fall were:
- Michael Pipitone, 39, of Middletown, arrested in September 2020 and indicted on charges of first-degree Endangering via Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials using a File-Sharing Program Available to Others and second-degree Endangering via Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials;
- Charles Hoagland, 57, of Hazlet, arrested in November 2020 and indicted on three counts of second-degree Endangering via Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials and one count of second-degree Endangering via Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials;
- David Eidman, 53, of Long Branch, arrested in November 2020 and indicted on two counts of second-degree Endangering via Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials and single counts of third-degree Endangering via Possession and third-degree Attempted Endangering;
- Carl Aliwalas, 29, of Neptune Township, arrested in May 2021 and indicted for second-degree Endangering via Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials and second-degree Endangering via Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials; and
- John Coluzzi, 33, of Manalapan, arrested in May 2021; and Marvin Diaz, 35, of Howell, arrested in November 2019; both were indicted for second-degree Endangering via Distribution and third-degree Endangering via Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials.
Additionally, earlier this fall, 40-year-old Kenneth Megill of Wall Township, arrested in January 2020, was indicted on charges of third-degree Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child and third-degree Attempted Obscenity to a Minor for allegedly engaging in inappropriate conversations with and attempting to show inappropriate materials to a juvenile.
Investigations into the actions of these defendants were conducted by members of the Prosecutor’s Office’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, working in tandem with representatives of local police departments in the jurisdictions in which the crimes took place. The cases are assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Stephanie Dugan.
The Monmouth County ICAC Task Force includes members of the following police departments: Bradley Beach, Eatontown, Howell, Long Branch, Manalapan, Marlboro, Middletown, Neptune Township, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Tinton Falls, Keyport, Keansburg, Belmar, Holmdel, and Red Bank; the Task Force also receives investigative support from the New Jersey State Police (High Tech Crime Bureau).
Convictions on first-degree criminal charges are commonly punishable by terms of 10 to 20 years in state prison. Second-degree convictions can result in terms of 5 to 10 years; third-degree convictions can result in terms of 3 to 5 years.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com
October 8, 2020
Visit: https://www.monmouthcountyvotes.com/ for the latest voting information in Monmouth County
FREEHOLD, NJ (MONMOUTH)–As you may be aware, this year’s November General Election in New Jersey is being conducted primarily by mail-in ballots, per State mandate. On November 3, 2020, Election Day, limited polling locations will be open for voting on paper provisional ballots only, except for disabled voters.
Voters across Monmouth County are receiving their mail-in ballots this week and are encouraged to contact the County Clerk’s Election Office at 732-431-7790, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with any questions about the delivery of their ballots.
Due to this unprecedented change in our election process, Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon has provided a comprehensive webpage on MonmouthCountyVotes.com, explaining this year’s election process.
In addition, our office has provided video tutorials, including an animated step-by-step video informing Monmouth County voters of how to properly complete and return their mail-in ballots. The tutorial also explains how the paper ballots are reviewed and verified by the Monmouth County Board of Elections.
The video can be viewed on our Facebook and YouTube pages. We encourage you to share this important information with your friends and neighbors.
Election Hotline Established to Secure Election Integrity
To help ensure free and fair elections in Monmouth County, the County Election Offices and Prosecutor’s Office have established an election hotline. To report any issues of voter fraud or misconduct in Monmouth County, residents can call the County Prosecutor’s Office hotline at 855-786-5878.
“Our democratic system of government depends on free and fair elections and, as such, election integrity and security is important to all of us,” said County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni and County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon. “For these reasons, our offices are working together to further safeguard the electoral process.”
- Monday, October 12th: All County Offices closed in observance of Columbus Day
- Tuesday, October 13th: Voter Registration Deadline for the November General Election
- Friday, October 30th: Application Deadline for General Election Mail-In Ballots by Electronic Means for Qualified Overseas Civilian and Military Voters
- Tuesday, November 3rd: General Election Day!
- Tuesday, November 3rd at 8 p.m.: Close of the polls; Deadline to deliver mail-in ballot by U.S. Postal Service mail, Drop Box, or in-person to the County Board of Elections at 300 Halls Mill Road in Freehold or at assigned Polling Place.
Monmouth County Secure Ballot Dropbox Locations:
| Location | Address | Entry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aberdeen Municipal Building | 1 Aberdeen Square Aberdeen, NJ 07747 |
|
| 2 | Allentown Borough Hall | 8 North Main Street Allentown, NJ 08501 |
|
| 3 | Asbury Park City Hall | 1 Municipal Plaza Asbury Park, NJ 07712 |
City Council Chambers (Bangs Avenue Entrance) |
| 4 | Borough of Belmar Municipal Building | 601 Main Street Belmar, NJ 07719 |
|
| 5 | Eatontown Borough Municipal Building | 47 Broad Street Eatontown, NJ 07724 |
Rear Entrance |
| 6 | Board of Elections Office | 300 Halls Mill Road Freehold, NJ 07728 |
Side Entrance |
| 7 | Hazlet Agency – NJ Motor Vehicle Commission | 1374 Highway 36 Hazlet, NJ 07730 |
Airport Plaza |
| 8 | Howell Township Municipal Building | 4567 Route 9 North Howell, NJ 07731 |
Rear Entrance |
| 9 | Long Branch City Hall | 344 Broadway Long Branch, NJ 07740 |
|
| 10 | Manalapan Township Municipal Building | 120 County Road 522 Manalapan, NJ 07726 |
|
| 11 | Middletown Municipal Building | 1 Kings Highway Middletown Township, NJ 07748 |
|
| 12 | Croydon Hall | 900 Leonardville Road Leonardo, NJ 07737 |
|
| 13 | Neptune Township Municipal Building | 25 Neptune Boulevard Neptune, NJ 07753 |
Library Entrance |
| 14 | Ocean Township Town Hall | 399 Monmouth Road Oakhurst, NJ 07755 |
|
| 15 | Red Bank Borough Municipal Building | 90 Monmouth Street Red Bank, NJ 07701 |
|
| 16 | Rumson Borough Hall | 80 East River Road Rumson, NJ 07760 |
|
| 17 | Wall Township Municipal Building | 2700 Allaire Road Wall, NJ 07719 |
September 22, 2020
ALLENTOWN, NJ (MONMOUTH)–An Allentown resident told MidJersey.News that around 11 pm last night a delivery crew installed a Vote-By-Mail Drop Box in front of Allentown at Borough Hall on Main Street. There are currently 17 Vote-By-Mail Drop Box locations for Monmouth County, this is the furthest west serving Western Monmouth County.
A current list of Vote-By-Mail Drop Box locations for Monmouth County can be found here.
Pursuant to State law, the November 3, 2020 General Election will be conducted primarily by Mail-In Ballot in New Jersey.
If you wish to place your Mail-In Ballot in a secure drop box, below are the locations throughout the County which will be available starting the week of September 15. Addresses in the list below are clickable and will bring up Google Maps.
Voters can drop their voted Mail-In Ballot into these Board of Elections Drop Boxes anywhere in the County up until 8 p.m. on November 3, 2020. You do not have to be a resident of the town where the drop box is located. Be advised that these drop boxes are under video surveillance and are monitored by the Monmouth County Board of Elections, which can be reached at 732-431-7802.
For more information about the General Election process, click here.
| Location | Address | Entry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aberdeen Municipal Building | 1 Aberdeen Square Aberdeen, NJ 07747 |
|
| 2 | Allentown Borough Hall | 8 North Main Street Allentown, NJ 08501 |
|
| 3 | Asbury Park City Hall | 1 Municipal Plaza Asbury Park, NJ 07712 |
City Council Chambers (Bangs Avenue Entrance) |
| 4 | Borough of Belmar Municipal Building | 601 Main Street Belmar, NJ 07719 |
|
| 5 | Eatontown Borough Municipal Building | 47 Broad Street Eatontown, NJ 07724 |
Rear Entrance |
| 6 | Board of Elections Office | 300 Halls Mill Road Freehold, NJ 07728 |
Side Entrance |
| 7 | Hazlet Agency – NJ Motor Vehicle Commission | 1374 Highway 36 Hazlet, NJ 07730 |
Airport Plaza |
| 8 | Howell Township Municipal Building | 4567 Route 9 North Howell, NJ 07731 |
Rear Entrance |
| 9 | Long Branch City Hall | 344 Broadway Long Branch, NJ 07740 |
|
| 10 | Manalapan Township Municipal Building | 120 County Road 522 Manalapan, NJ 07726 |
|
| 11 | Middletown Municipal Building | 1 Kings Highway Middletown Township, NJ 07748 |
|
| 12 | Croydon Hall | 900 Leonardville Road Leonardo, NJ 07737 |
|
| 13 | Neptune Township Municipal Building | 25 Neptune Boulevard Neptune, NJ 07753 |
Library Entrance |
| 14 | Ocean Township Town Hall | 399 Monmouth Road Oakhurst, NJ 07755 |
|
| 15 | Red Bank Borough Municipal Building | 90 Monmouth Street Red Bank, NJ 07701 |
|
| 16 | Rumson Borough Hall | 80 East River Road Rumson, NJ 07760 |
|
| 17 | Wall Township Municipal Building | 2700 Allaire Road Wall, NJ 07719 |
Allentown Borough Hall Vote-By-Mail Drop Box arrived at 11 pm last night.
Mercer County Community College – $3,851,115, West Windsor, Mercer County
Ocean County College – $4,265,169, Toms River, NJ
Brookdale Community College – $ 6,334,411, Lincroft, Monmouth County
April 13, 2020
More than $24 million has been approved for institutions of higher learning and career institutes in the Monmouth, Ocean and Mercer areas of Rep. Chris Smith’s Fourth Congressional District to help these schools and their students overcome the costs and the impact of the coronavirus, said Smith today.
The $24 million on its way to educational facilities in or bordering Smith’s district is part of a broader $238 million award to colleges across the state which was announced today by the U.S. Department of Education—following a bipartisan letter by the New Jersey congressional delegation which Rep. Smith cosigned with his NJ colleagues in the House and which was led by NJ’s two senators.
Smith said the funding—$24,147,003 which will help pay for the impact of COVID-19 of the higher education system—comes from the comprehensive, bipartisan $2 trillion stimulus bill to help communities devastated by the coronavirus pandemic which Smith supported and was signed into law by President Trump March 27.
“Our students and colleges have seen immense financial challenges due to the coronavirus outbreak across America,” said Smith (NJ-04), who spoke on the floor in support of quick passage of the CARES Act. “This funding will help stabilize the higher education system which has been turned upside down in this health crisis. It’s good news from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for our higher learning educational system in New Jersey.”
Among the recipients are Brookdale County College which will receive $6.3 million, Ocean County College $4.2 million, Mercer County College $3.8 million, Beth Medrash Govoha of America $5.8 million and Georgian Court nearly $1.7 million.
Numerous learning institutions in the Fourth District area Rep. Smith serves are receiving funds, including:
- Advantage Career Institute – $41,609, Eatontown, Monmouth County
- Bais Medrash Mayan Hatorah – $46,377, Lakewood, Ocean County
- Bais Medrash Toras Chesed – $68,038, Lakewood, Ocean County
- Beth Medrash Govoha of America – $5,899,593, Lakewood, Ocean County
- Beth Medrash of Asbury Park – $109,145, Lakewood, Ocean County
- Brookdale Community College – $ 6,334,411, Lincroft, Monmouth County
- Georgian Court University – $1,690,335, Lakewood, Ocean County
- Medical Career Institute – $332,030 Ocean Twp., Monmouth County
- Mercer County Community College – $3,851,115, West Windsor, Mercer County
- Ocean County College – $4,265,169, Toms River, NJ
- Saint Francis Medical Center – $23,963, Trenton, Mercer County
- Seminary Bnos Chaim – $255,559, Lakewood, Ocean County
- Talmudical Academy – $122,458, Adelphia, Monmouth County
- Yeshiva Bais Aharon – $64,039, Lakewood, Ocean County
- Yeshiva Chemdas Hatorah – $112,892, Lakewood, Ocean County
- Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel – $179,422, Lakewood, Ocean County
- Yeshiva Gedolah Keren Hatorah – $229,239, Lakewood, Ocean County
- Yeshiva Gedolah Shaarei Shmuel – $85,372, Lakewood, Ocean County
- Yeshiva Toras Chaim – $347,751, Lakewood, Ocean County
- Yeshiva Yesodei Hatorah $73,641, Lakewood, Ocean County
- Yeshivas Emek Hatorah $56,454, Howell, Monmouth County
The CARES Act is the third and the largest phase of the federal response enacted into law. Smith supported Phase I, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020—which provided $8.3 billion for treatment and prevention measures in NJ. Phase II, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act—provided paid sick leave, family medical leave, free testing, and expanded unemployment benefits among other provisions to help working Americans.
The CARES Act is also providing direct financial assistance of $1,200 for individuals making under $75,000 per year, $100 billion in grants to hospitals to address coronavirus-related financial damage, $150 billion to assist state and local governments, $600 extra per week to unemployment benefits for four months, and $16 billion to assist in the procurement of medical supplies for the Strategic National Stockpile.
Photo of Mercer County Community College from MCCC Facebook Page
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