Fair Haven Police Report: Biz Thefts, Home Under Construction Vandalized

The following information was obtained directly from the Fair Haven Police Department. It does not indicate convictions.

Fair Haven police reported the following incidents and arrests for the month of February: • On Feb. 5, Patrolman Koetzner took a theft report from a River Road business. The business reported a total of $190 in merchandise stolen. • On Feb. 6, Patrolman William Lagrotteria took a theft report from a River Road business. The business reported a total of $39.80 in merchandise taken. • On Feb 11, Cpl. John Waltz and Special Officer Albert took a report of vandalism that was done to the interior of  a Woodland Drive home under construction. • On Feb. 14, Patrolman Dwayne Reevey took a theft report from a Kemp Avenue resident. The resident reported later in the day that her items were located. • On Feb 18, Detective Stephen Schneider took a …

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In Your Fair Haven Youth Center Days

Take a look back in time. Tell us what you think of the Youth Center's new name. What are your memories of the place?

It may be called the Fair Haven Community Center now, but people know it as the Youth Center — just the Youth Center. Different name. Same place. It's that yellow-hued cement fixture on Fisk Street where the police station is housed. It's a staple gathering place for community activities. It's the warming center in a storm. It's also steeped in borough history. If you've been around town long enough, you probably have some sort of Youth Center memory. You may remember something as simple as registering your kids for soccer or baseball there. You also may remember something as freakishly ancient as being toted down the street on a rope (yes, a rope) with other kids to the place daily to go to kindergarten. Quite a few Fair Havenites have …

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Elaine Van Develde

6:07 pm on Sunday, February 24, 2013

Yes, the tennis! I was a terrible tennis player, so I'm sure a lot of my mishaps rotted away on that roof.   more ›

Town Crime Stats on State Police Site

The comparative stats are available, updated on a weekly basis

The New Jersey State Police Uniform Crime Reporting Unit has just taken a significant step forward in reporting crime throughout the state. A link was placed on the public State Police Web site that connects users to recent and comparative crime data for municipalities and counties. The data is updated every week, or as often as municipalities provide fresh numbers.  “For the first time, we are able to give the public a sense of the current crime picture in their area. Even as preliminary data, this will be a great new tool for the public,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. The data on the Web site is unverified and published as it is received from the sending municipalities. Consequently, the data …

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FH Police Beat: DWI, CDS Possession

January a slow month, police say. Many ongoing investigations, few arrests from motor vehicle stops.

January was a slow month, as far as motor vehicle stops resulting in arrests go, Fair Haven Police Detective Stephen Schneider said. "For the most part, people were on their best behavior last month," Schneider said. "We have a lot of ongoing investigtions at this time, but January was a lower crime month here, as far as arrest reports go." Aside from routine speeding tickets and minor incidents, there was one motor vehicle stop, after an accident, that resulted in an arrest. According to police records, on Jan. 15, Cpl. John Waltz and Special Officer Albert arrested Vincent P. Delisa, 50, of Long Branch, and charged him with driving while intoxicated and obtaining a CDS (controlled dangerous substance, or drug) not prescribed by a …

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Fair Haven's Police Officer of the Year

Patrolman William Lagrotteria was honored with the title

Fair Haven Police Patrolman William "Billy" Lagrotteria has a knack with kids that has made people take notice. He is a leader and mentor for the Fair Haven Police Explorers program. He works the D.A.R.E. program in the schools. He is an assistant coach for football and track at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School. And he is an officer who mediates between parents and kids when kids get in trouble and find themselves in the Monmouth County Court system in Freehold. He is known for doing it all, and very effectively, Chief Darryl Breckenridge said. The 26-year-old juvenile officer with seven years on the job also has an excellent record on the road, the chief added. The exemplary skills combined are what ended up garnering Lagrotteria, a…

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FH Moving Toward Police Accreditation

The process should take about a year, according to Mayor Ben Lucarelli

The Fair Haven Police Department is on its way to becoming accredited. The Borough Council last night approved a resolution to award a contract for $34,000 to The Rodgers Group, LLC, of Island Heights, to facilitate the process. The consultant group’s proposal was reviewed by Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge and Borough Attorney Salvatore Alfieri and “found to be acceptable,” according to the resolution. Once the process, described as a long, arduous and intricate one, begins, “it should take about a year to complete,” Mayor Ben Lucarelli said. “What accreditation does is to establish the highest standards for policies and procedures in a police department. Statistics show that there are many benefits to being an accredited department. It …

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FH Police Beat: Theft, Burglary, DWI

Miss anything in October? Check it out in the police blotter, provided by Detective Stephen Schneider, below.

The following information was obtained directly from from the Fair Haven Police Department. It does not indicate convictions ... • Detective Stephen Schneider signed complaints against Rufus Monroe, of 92 Peach St., Tinton Falls, on Oct. 1 after charging him with burglary, theft and credit card theft stemming from a reported Aug. 28 incident on Poplar Avenue. Monroe was remanded to the custody of the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold.  Bail was set at $30,000, with no 10 percent option. • Patrolman Lagrotteria and Special Officer Murray responded to a Fair Haven Road address on Oct. 13 and arrested an intoxicated juvenile. The juvenile was released to a family guardian. • Patrolman Lagrotteria, Special Officer Murray and …

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A Police Department Accredited

Fair Haven Police Department takes steps to earn the distinction

An Accreditation of a Police Department

Fair Haven officials taking steps to start the process in 2013

It’s something the general public doesn’t normally hear in association with a police department, but rather with entities such as schools — accreditation. There is, however, such a thing; and, Fair Haven officials are moving forward to start the accreditation process for the borough's police department. It was brought up before the governing body recently. Fair Haven Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge sat before council and explained what he felt were the benefits of his department earning the status. Borough Administrator Theresa Casagrande told council that, in her opinion, such a move was an astute one. "I will tell you that the recommendation to move forward with this project is a joint recommendation of myself and the chief," Casagrande…

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UPDATE: Drug Bust in Fair Haven

The following information was obtained directly from Fair Haven Police Department records. It does not indicate convictions.

Two men from Fair Haven and one from Rumson are facing drug possession charges stemming from a September incident. The incident occurred on Sept. 13 when "a Poplar Avenue resident called police to report a suspicious vehicle with three men getting in and out of the car (repeatedly)," Detective Stephen Schneider said. Police responded and while questioning the men, allegedly spotted a white powdery substance (believed to be cocaine) in a small clear plastic baggie "in plain view," Schneider added. The Monmouth County Sheriff's Officer Kroeper and K-9 Evan were called to the scene as well. The Fair Haven officers on the scene — patrolmen Dwayne Reevey and William Lagrotteria and Sgt. Sherri Lambert — arrested the men: Paul J. Kaltenborn, 37…

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