At various times before 1919, police protection in the area was provided by Marshals, Constables, and Special Police. Upon the Borough’s incorporation in 1919, J. Wellington Pearce was appointed as its first official Marshal and $1.88 was allocated for policing for the ensuing year. This amount was raised to $25.00 in 1920.
Shem B. Pearce was appointed Chief of Police without pay in 1924, and Chief George W. Legg likewise in 1926.
The Brielle Police Department began on September 8, 1933, when the Borough’s Council approved the appointment of a Police Committee within the Council, a Chief of Police, one Patrolman, and provisions for “Reserve Police”. In 1933, Chief Legg was appointed as Brielle’s first paid Police Chief and in 1934 John Rogers became the first Patrolman hired to the Police Department.
By the late 1950’s, the Department grew to five police officers. The Department consisted of, a Chief of Police, one Sergeant, and three Patrolmen.
Over the years the Department grew under the leadership of Chief John P. Van Kirk, Chief Arthur G. Brandau, Chief Alfred O. Kenney, Chief Harry M. Whelan, Chief Michael W. Palmer, and currently, Chief Gary J. Olsen.
Currently, the Department has 18 sworn officers as well as 8 civilian employees. Since January of 2019, the Chief of Police is Gary J. Olsen. The Department is organized into three divisions; Operations, Professional Standards, and Administrative. The Brielle Police Department works every day to be an asset to the Brielle community and strives to live up to its core values: “Integrity, Respect, Service, Fairness.”
