Police Department

 

A Message From Chief Rick Ivone

 As members of the Piscataway Township Police Department, our mission is to provide a professional community-orientated police service.  We are committed to creating and maintaining an active community partnership and assisting citizens in identifying and solving problems to improve the quality of lives in our neighborhoods. We are dedicated to protecting life, property, and maintaining order, preventing as well as deterring crime and the fear of crime, while assuring fair and impartial enforcement of the law to everyone.

We will accomplish our mission to serve the public with honesty, integrity and professionalism.

To contact Chief Ivone please call his secretary  at 732-562-7651.

Operations Division - 732-562-2380

Patrol Section

The uniformed patrol section’s primary function is the preservation of life and property.  The patrol officer aggressively enforces motor vehicle laws to improve the flow of traffic.  They also patrol the township to preserve law, keep peace, prevent and discover the commission of a crime.  The Patrol Officer will be the first responder to handle a variety of calls which provide assistance to the general public such as: assisting the sick or injured, answering calls and complaints, domestic disputes, fires, thefts, accidents, conduct preliminary investigations.

Traffic Section - Lt. Iannuzzo 732-562-2345

The goal of the Piscataway Police Traffic Safety Section is to provide for the safe and expeditious travel of citizens within and through the Township. This will be accomplished through the application of enforcement, education and engineering.  It is the duty of all officers assigned to the Traffic Safety Section to provide assistance to citizens with all matters pertaining to motor vehicles and safety on our roadways. This will include, but not limited to, the investigation and remediation of all traffic complaints, parking issues, abandoned vehicles, traffic engineering and regulatory matters.  It is also the responsibility of the Traffic Safety Section to oversee the school crossing guards, inspect roadway work zones, review all crash reports, review road opening permit applications, review block party permit applications, inspect child car seats, review soliciting and parade applications, investigate and oversee rotation wrecker and taxi applicants. They maintain the use of the Alcotest instrument. Traffic Safety officers also investigate all types of motor vehicle crashes including serious and fatal motor vehicle crashes, hit and run crashes, police vehicle crashes and police vehicular pursuits. Traffic Safety officers are members of the Patrol Division.

Support Division -  Capt. Cartmell 732-562-2318

General Investigations Section - Lt. Garnecki 732-562-2350

The General Investigation Section is responsible for conducting investigations for crimes that are committed within the boundaries of the Township.  The incidents range from minor disorderly conduct offenses to major criminal investigations.  These responsibilities include, but are not limited to, managing a number of cases at one time, developing leads, recovering stolen property, tracking and arresting suspects.  The Detectives also assist victims to navigate the criminal justice system from the reporting the crime through trial.  The Identification Officer is assigned to this section and is responsible for storage, preservation of evidence, fingerprinting, firearms applications, Megan’s Law, and Liquor License inspections.

Special Victims Unit - Sgt. Zmuda 732-562-2309

The Special Victims Unit is responsible for crimes involving Sexual Assaults, Missing Persons, and Juveniles.  The Detectives are specially trained to deal with sensitive issues that arise from victims of sexual assault.  Incidents involving Missing Persons and Juvenile are given particular importance due to the vulnerability of the victims.  The School Resource Officers (SRO) work under the supervision of this unit.  The SRO is the liaison between the school and the police department, opening communication for Administrators, Teachers, and Students.  One SRO is assigned to Piscataway High School and the other is responsible for the three Middle Schools.

Narcotics Unit - Sgt. Young 732-562-2366

The Narcotics Unit is responsible for investigations involving drug related offenses within the Township.  It is their responsibility to gather intelligence, identify, and eradicate illegal drug activity in the Township.

Emergency Services Unit - 732-562-2380

The Emergency Service Unit (ESU) is a highly trained unit that prepares for emergency response to unexpected incidents.  They are used to serve search warrants.  The members of this unit go through demanding physical workouts to build their strength and agility.  They are highly skilled in the use of firearms and special tactics.

Training Section - Lt. Velazquez 732-562-2351

The Training Section is responsible for providing high quality education and training for all of our police officers.

Officers receive annual training in the use of force, motor vehicle pursuit, and domestic violence response, blood borne pathogens, cellblock management, and the use of OC spray.  In addition, officers are sent to a wide variety of in-service courses that are offered at the local police academies.

The Training Section is also responsible for training our officers in the proper use of any new equipment that is issued and any changes or updates to our computer systems, and also for overseeing the semi-annual firearms qualifications.  This section also is responsible for our Special Class I & II officers.

Community Policing Section - Lt. Velazquez - 732-562-2376

The Community Policing Section’s mission is to promote a partnership between the community and the police.  This will encourage community involvement to address the causes of crime, the fear of crime, and other community concerns.  They address quality of life issues with the Township.

Service Section - Plt. Hackler - 732-562-6577

The Service Section supports the police department’s overall mission by providing members with well-maintained equipment, along with auxiliary services that may assist in the delivery of the highest quality police services.

With today’s ever growing technological advances, the service section’s primary responsibility includes implementing and maintaining all of the computer systems, equipment in police headquarters and in the police vehicles.  These include NJCJIS/NCIC, Records Management System, Mobile Data Terminals, in-house networking, exchange server management and radio system management.

In addition, the section is also responsible for fleet management; weapons, equipment, supply, inventory control and management of extra duty details for police officers.

Records Section - Ptlm. Hackler - 732-562-2376

The Records Section is responsible for maintaining all official police reports/documents.  Both incident and motor vehicle accident reports are now maintained in the department’s computerized record keeping system.  Reports are available in person for a nominal fee.  Effective July 8, 2002 and in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1:

• Investigative reports are not public information.  Incident verifications for insurance purposes can be issued.
• Arrest information can be released under certain criteria.
• Most accident reports are public information.
• Defendants charged with a crime or offense may request Discovery through the Municipal Prosecutor under Court Rules.
• Domestic Violence Reports & Information and reports involving juveniles must be requested through the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

While most reports are available to the public under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), certain reports are not.  A summary of the procedures, forms and timetables for access are explained in more detail below.

What is a government records?

A government record is a physical record that has a government purpose and that is held by a public agency.  Under OPRA, the “physical record” includes any paper, written or printed book, document, drawing, map, plan, photograph, microfilm, data-processed or image-processed document, and information stored or maintained electronically or by sound recording.

What government records are accessible to the public?

Generally, all government records are accessible to the public except those that fall under the exceptions to public access set forth in OPRA.  These exceptions to public accessibility standards exist because of the legal principle that citizens have a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding records in possession of a public agency; because of public safety concerns; and because of the need to insure unfettered debate, discussion, and consideration of issues inside public agencies.

Exceptions:

• Autopsy reports                                   
• Victim locations
• Criminal investigative records   
• Victim records
• Credit card numbers                            
• DYFS information
• Social security numbers            
• Electronic surveillance
• Unlisted telephone numbers                  
• Fingerprint cards
• Drivers’ license numbers                      
• Juvenile records
• Domestic violence data            
• Safety of persons or public

How do I obtain government records?

The procedure for obtaining government records from the Piscataway Township Police Department is fairly straightforward.  It is important to note, however, that you need to know what records you want.  In order for your request to be processed, you will be required to provide an accurate and specific description for each record sought.

Citizens who wish to obtain government records must file a records request in person with the department’s Custodian of Records.  This is accomplished by completing a form available at the Records Section office at police headquarters.

The Records Section is also responsible for the release of towed/impounded motor vehicles, the expunging of criminal records, and microfilming old police reports/documents.