History

Mantoloking was incorporated as a Borough when it broke away from Brick Township on April 10, 1911. At that time Mantoloking had Marshalls or Special Marshalls. The earliest known Special Marshalls found on record were John C. Hankins and Ephraim Osborne who were found on the minutes recorded May 18^th 1912 from the regular council meeting. On May 1^st 1926 J. Harrison “Hat” Herbert was hired as a Marshal in the Borough of Mantoloking. Hat worked as a Marshal and his title was changed to Police officer in the late 1920’s. He was promoted to the first Chief of Police in the Borough of Mantoloking on January 1, 1931 and would serve in that position until his retirement in January 1964. He is the longest serving member of the police department still to this date, serving 37 year and 9 months. Chief Herbert saw more than 25 years of Motorcycle Patrol and was recognized at the time by Harley Davidson Co. that he was the only police officer of the time who has spent that period of time on Motorcycle Patrol. Chief Herbert grew the department from a one-man department to a five-man department consisting of a Chief, a Sergeant and three patrolmen.

Since its creation, there have only been seven men and women who have served in the position of Chief of Police. Prior to the construction of the original Borough hall in 1928, the marshals worked out of a one room office in the Rail Road station located at 201 Downer Ave. The first police department was built at 202 Downer Ave. in 1928. The original Borough hall building consisted of the Police department and the Borough Hall offices on the first floor. The second floor of the building was the barracks for the officers to live with their families. In the early 1960’s there was no longer a use for the Barracks on the second floor and the space was converted into the municipal court.

The Mantoloking Police Department has grown from a one-man department in 1926 to a total of nine officers in 2022, including the rank of Chief, Lieutenant, two Sergeants and five Patrolmen.