IN CASE OF EMERGENCY DIAL: 9-1-1

Frequently Asked Questions:

For more detailed information visit the official Kearny Police Department website:
kearnynjpd.org

Where is the Kearny Police Department located?

The Police Department is located at 237 Laurel Avenue, between Elm Street and Forest Street.

What phone number do I call to reach the Police Department?

The Kearny Police Department, all the various divisions, and Officers can be reached by calling the main phone number. 201-998-1313

How do I obtain copies of police reports?

Police reports are usually available three (3) to five (5) business days after the report has been taken. Reports are available at the Record Bureau, inside the Main Police Building, Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm. The Records Division is closed on all Federal and State holidays. Please call (201) 998-1313 to be sure that your report is available prior to making your trip (have the report Case number available when you call). There is a cost for all reports according to the type of report and it’s length. Ask the Records Division clerks when you call.

Does the Police Department offer fingerprinting services?

The Kearny Police Department no longer provides fingerprint services for immigration & Naturalization. The following locations do provide finger print services :
946 Broad Street, Newark 973-596-1079 or 65 Walnut Street , Newark
For additional information contact the Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) at 973-645-3242

I receive calls from solicitors requesting donations for various police related associations. Are these legitimate ? Should I donate to these solicitors?

The Kearny Police Department does not solicit over the telephone. The Kearny Police Department never solicits for funding. The Kearny PBA Local # 21solicits funds on behalf of the Union. The PBA solicits funds through mailings which clearly state that the funds received will go to the Kearny PBA Local #21. Telemarketing firms make phone calls soliciting funds for various organizations. These solicitations do not benefit the Kearny Police Department or PBA Local 21 in any way. These tele-marketers try to impress upon the caller that funding will go to their local Police Department. While some of the Telemarketing solicitations are for legitimate Police related organizations, The Kearny PBA is in no way related to any of these solicitations. If you decide to contribute to any of these organizations, always ask for the name, address and telephone number so that you may call back after careful consideration. If you have any questions please direct them to the Police Department.

History

Town ordinances drafted in 1889 founded the Kearny Police Department. The original department structure consisted of Chief William Tolen, two sergeants, and eight patrolmen, or chancemen. A patrolman was a permanently sworn member of the department, while a chanceman was appointed for a specific time period. Until the 1920s it was not uncommon for a department member to serve what amounted to an internship as a chanceman for a period of 1 to 5 years before earning permanent appointment as a patrolman. Patrolmen worked three shifts at that time: 5am-1pm, 1pm-9pm, 9pm-5am plus one man who filled a 7-day shift from 4am-9am.

In 1920, Walter Oliver was promoted from captain to chief of police replacing the retiring William Tolen. The department had grown to approximately 40 officers including 2 captains, 4 lieutenants, and 6 sergeants. The Kearny Police had become a genuine 24 hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week operation. In 1924, Chief Oliver retired and was replaced by Philip T. Bell. During 1929 to 1930, Chief Bell concurrently served a term as the president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. By the time of Bell’s death in 1939, and Oliver’s in 1940, their small 11-man department had grown to 85 men and included full time patrol of the industrial section of Town known as South Kearny.

John Helmsley became the next chief, retiring in 1953. The Department had a large Civilian Reserve Corps during World War II that kept a vigilant presence in South Kearny, protecting the shipyards located there against acts of sabotage and terrorism. Chiefs Carl Berg, James Hanna, and Fred Wandras each served as chiefs in succession through the balance of the decade.

It was under the stewardship of Fred Wandras that the department grew into a 100-man force. During the turbulent 1960s the department was guided by Wandras, J. Walter Davey, John Perry Jr. and Paul Mulligan as chiefs of police, in that order. Mulligan served through 1977 during which time the force grew to 125 men. Chief Chester Potter then replaced mulligan.

Chief Potter was chief until April of 1980 when his arrest on corruption-related charges ended his tenure. Chester Bielski replaced Potter in an acting capacity to guide the department through a turbulent time. Bill Comer was later named permanent chief and served until 1983 when Bielski again took the reins as chief. Under Chief Bielski, the department was at its all-time high of 138 sworn members. The department boasted a Vice Unit, Warrant Squad, fully staffed Traffic Bureau, as well as large and active Patrol and Detective Divisions

After a large number of retirements in 1994 the Town decided a restructuring of the department was needed. Many positions were eliminated through attrition and the department emerged with 101 sworn officers.

It was during the time from 1994 to 1998 that KPD went through a series of short term chiefs. John O’Neill, Thomas Wilgus, Sr., and Thomas “Tim” Sharples filled the office until Chief John Dowie assumed command in February 1998.

Chief Dowie would lead the department honorably until his retirement on December 1, 2017. During Chief Dowie’s tenure the Town of Kearny would enjoy some of its lowest crime rates in modern history.

Under the leadership of Chief Scott Macfie, the Department remains dedicated to serving the citizens of Kearny with unwavering commitment. Focused on maintaining low crime rates and upholding its esteemed reputation, the Department stands ready to meet the community’s evolving needs well into the future.

This history was provided by Ptl. James Mackintosh #165 (Ret.) and updated by Capt. Tim Wagner #246..