Green Brook Police Department History

 1928 – Green Brook is incorporated as a municipality separating from Watchung.  Men residing in Green Brook who had been constables or special officers prior to the splitting of boundary lines became police officers for the new community.  They were compensated for their services at the rate of $12.00 a year.  The Chief, Norman Smith earned $15.00 a year.

 1929 – The Township Committee provides the officers with badges.

 1930 – Officers were issued .45 caliber revolvers and handcuffs.

 1931 – Officers bought their own uniforms. See Picture

 1932 – George Kafka, a local milkman, became Chief.  He served as Chief for the next 18 years until his death in 1950.

 1935 – Although the department still did not have its own police car, they had really fancy uniforms! See Picture

 1938 – Green Brook Police get their first police car, a 1938 Plymouth. See Picture

 1942 – Annual compensation rose from $12.00 to $100.00 a year.  According to department records, the increase was largely due to the war and the large number of soldiers stationed at Camp Kilmer.  Who on weekends would frequent the several taverns in Green Brook.  The increased stipend was probably an incentive to the officers who now, instead of investigating chicken thieves, were responding to bar room brawls on a regular basis.  As a result a routine patrol on Saturday evenings was initiated during the war years.

 1950 – James Durham, a trucking firm owner, was appointed Chief of Police and served in that capacity until 1958.  The 50’s were major growing years for Green Brook.  The population increased from approximately 1000 residents to near 4300 residents.  The job of the Police Department grew proportionately.  Chief Durham initiated evening patrols, Monday through Friday, and continued the Saturday evening patrol.  This of course required the special police officers to devote more time to their police job.  Between 1950 and 1958, the annual salary was increased from $100.00 to $350.00.

 1951 – The department’s police car was equipped with a two-way radio.  A low powered base station was installed in Chief Durham’s house.  For many years, Mrs. Durham dispatched the evening patrol from her kitchen.  Prior to the use of a radio, and dating back to Chief Kafka’s time, the patrol car would pass by the Chief’s house every half-hour.  If the porch light was off it indicated “all was quiet” the porch light burning signaled the car to stop in.

 1958 – On July 1, of this year, Bernard Block was appointed Chief of Police.  He had served many years as a special officer and assumed the Chief’s office on a part-time basis.  Robert H. Lund, after serving as a special officer became the Township’s first full-time Patrolman.  Patrolman Lund provided daytime police service, while evening and weekend work continued to be handled by Chief Block and the special police officers.

 1960 – July 1, 1960, Robert H. Lund is appointed Chief of Police.

 1966 – The Green Brook Police Department consisted of a Chief, a sergeant and four patrolman assisted by four special officers.  See Picture

 1970 - During  the Seventies the Department roster grows to meet the public safety demands of an increasing population, traffic and business development along U.S. Highway 22, a main corridor which links North Jersey and New York City to Pennsylvania. See Picture 

 1984 - July 1, 1984, Chief Robert H. Lund retires, Roy Baughman promoted to Chief of Police.  Department consists of, Chief, one Lieutenant, four Sergeants, one Detective and six Patrolman.

 1992 - July 1, 1992, Chief Roy Baughman retires, Joseph Stopinski promoted from Captain to Chief of Police.  Department consists of, one Lieutenant, four Sergeants and nine Patrolman.  In September of 1992, The Green Brook Police Department replaces its aging .357 Smith & Wesson Six-shot service revolver with the Semi-Automatic Smith & Wesson .40 caliber model 4046.

 1996 - March 1, 1996, Chief Joseph Stopinski retires, Martin Rasmussen is promoted from Lieutenant to Chief of Police.

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Check out a Historical Chronology of the Township of Green Brook compiled by Anne Vicendese a Social Studies Teacher at the Green Brook Middle School.

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