Mantua police report enforcement, training needs and two major arrests

Captain Bill Murphy told the Township Committee on Aug. 12 that Mantua police continue active speed enforcement on Tyler's Mill Road and Capital Drive and are coordinating with the county engineer about lane-merge geometry and markers on Woodbury/Glassboro Road. A department crash analysis found six crashes and one minor injury in that area over the past ten years.

Murphy said an officer sustained minor injuries after a crash while assisting with a motor-vehicle complaint. He also reported that Patrolman Wolfsgruber led a major arrest related to diesel fuel theft that was turned over to the Division of Criminal Justice, and that the department executed a search warrant and made an arrest at a residence in Mantua connected to a scheme that reportedly victimized a Washington Township resident for about $475,000.

The captain said all officers are working to meet significant new training requirements to maintain policing licenses. He noted that there is no statewide single training process in place and that Gloucester County is coordinating with the Prosecutor's Office to help standardize county training and ease burdens on individual departments.

Murphy also said the department's canine unit raised funds at a recent golf outing and plans to add one single-purpose scent canine; he reported SLEO 2 Glaser is performing well in field training and is a candidate for a previously approved position.

The department is planning Police in the Park and said contributions and participants are still coming in. The meeting record did not specify timelines or dollar amounts for the two arrests, nor did it provide the name of the Washington Township victim beyond the amount reported.