Police report: 3,121 calls in July; resident accuses officers during public comment, officials say matter is in litigation

Captain D'Amico delivered the police department’s July report at the Aug. 4 Wildwood Crest Borough Commission meeting, saying the department handled 3,121 calls for service in July, including 1,559 incidents requiring multiple officers, 238 criminal investigations (73 disturbances), 1,350 traffic-related calls, 129 traffic summonses, 643 parking summonses, 25 accident investigations, 511 property checks, 340 training hours and 26 adult arrests (five DWI-related). He also thanked officers, EMS and public works staff for their work responding to Hurricane Aaron and reminded residents to sign up for the borough alert system and to drive carefully when school resumes.

Public comment that followed included several residents’ questions and complaints. One resident asserted that numerous officers had been involved in misconduct and referenced an ongoing lawsuit; the resident urged more transparency and cited a case name in their remarks. Borough officials repeatedly responded that the matter is the subject of litigation and an appeal and therefore could not be discussed at length in public session; staff said briefs had been submitted but that any hearing date is set by the court. The clerk and mayor told the commenter the commission could not comment on pending litigation.

Residents also raised questions about the resolution adopted at the meeting that designates the police chief as the custodian for police public records (OPRA) starting Sept. 1. One resident said they had a conflict with Chief Lloyd and asked where they should send OPRA requests; the clerk and mayor said police-related requests will go to the police department beginning Sept. 1 and that staff would follow up with guidance for situations in which a requester has a conflict with the chief.

Why it matters: The July statistics quantify police workload across public-safety categories and seasons (including storm response and the start of school); the public accusation raises reputational and legal issues for the department and the borough, but officials said they were constrained from discussing litigation in the meeting. The OPRA custodian change centralizes police-record requests with the department and prompted requests for alternative routing in conflict cases.

Next steps: Officials said the litigation is in appeal and will be adjudicated by the courts; the borough will implement the OPRA routing change Sept. 1 and agreed to follow up with a contact for residents with conflicts concerning the chief. No formal investigation or administrative action was described in the meeting.