Shea promoted to lieutenant in Freehold Township
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — A 19-year veteran of the township police department has been promoted to a new rank.
During a May 23 meeting of the Township Committee, Freehold Township Police Sgt. Daniel Shea was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
Shea began his career in March 1973 working with the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. Six years later he became a police officer in the Middletown Police Department, where he remained until joining the Freehold Township Police Depart-ment on Oct. 19, 1981. Shea was promoted to sergeant on Oct. 12, 1987.
Shea and his wife, Patricia, have two children, Brendan and Molly.
At the same time, three Special Law Enforcement Officers/Park Rangers — Mark Cecilione, Daniel Ruiz and Carrie Turek — were sworn in as member of the force.
Awards were presented to Sgt. Robert Brightman for rescuing a missing person during extremely cold weather conditions in a wooded area near Wemrock Road on Dec. 1, 1999; and in another incident, for the arrest of five subjects on charges of robbery and aggravated assault that occurred at Poets Square on Oct. 27, 1999. The arrests were made on Oct. 29.
Officer Christopher Mount received the Excellent Police Duty Award for his work with Brightman in the Poets Square incident.
Sgt. Dean Smith and Officer Russell Gelber earned the Excellent Police Duty Award for their response to a 911 hang-up call on June 21, 1999.
According to the citation, Smith displayed excellent supervisory ability in directing control and securing the scene which led to the arrest of an individual who was charged with various drug-related offenses. In this incident, Gelber pursued further investigation which led to the discovery of a large number of marijuana plants.
Medal of Merit Awards for distinguished meritorious achievement were presented to Officer Troy Braxton who on May 13, was off duty when he observed an attempted theft at a Sears store in Ocean Township. He then gave chase and apprehended the suspect.
On April 29, Detective Francis Boutote, Officer William Gallo, Officer William Holohan and Officer Michael Smith were dispatched to the Veterans of Foreign Wars post on Waterworks Road in response to shots being fired and a potential riot. The officers secured the scene and an investigation resulted in the arrest of seven individuals, the recovery of three handguns and the seizure of a vehicle and $1,350. These officers received the Excellent Police Duty Award.
On April 4, Officer Christopher Abt, Officer Christopher Mount and Officer Daniel Pasquinucci responded to a radio transmission of a shooting in Freehold Borough. The officers observed a vehicle on Route 79 and a subsequent stop led to the identification of the shooter and the recovery of a loaded 9mm handgun.
In other business, committee members approved the first reading of four ordinances. Each ordinance will have a public hearing on June 27.
These include an amendment to the traffic ordinance prohibiting overnight parking for commercial vehicles, trailers, boats, recreational vehicles, pole trailers, equipment or tractors, except for a pickup truck or sport utility vehicle weighing under 8,000 pounds gross weight; an ordinance changing the name of a portion of Route 79 (Marlboro Road) to Broadway so that the tax map and postal maps coincide; an ordinance changing the name of First Street to Dittmar Road in order to alleviate any confusion by police or emergency vehicles since there is a street in Freehold Borough with the name First Street; and a bond ordinance which provides an appropriation of just under $4 million for various improvements to municipal property, land acquisition and development and purchase of equipment by the township.
Also, the committee appointed Jeff Decker, of Outlook Lane, to the Zoning Board of Adjustment to fill the unexpired term of Mary Sullivan. The term ends on Dec. 31.


