holds No. 2 rank
Veteran police officer promoted
to deputy chief post in Manalapan
Stuart Brown now
Stuart Brown
holds No. 2 rank
in growing dept.
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
A veteran of the Manalapan Police Department will be promoted to the rank of deputy chief.
Capt. Stuart Brown will be sworn in to the position this evening during a ceremony to be held at the Manalapan municipal building. The position of deputy chief has been vacant for more than five years.
"Being promoted to deputy chief is truly a great honor for me," Brown said. "I cannot thank Chief John McCormack, who continues to be my biggest supporter, and the Township Committee enough for their expression of confidence in my abilities."
Brown said he has always taken great pride in representing the police department and the community.
"It’s a fantastic feeling when you realize that all of your hard work and effort is sincerely appreciated," he said. "Manal-apan is not only a great place to live, but to work in as well, and I am dedicated to ensuring it will remain this way."
"Stu has worked very hard," McCormack said. "He’s had an outstanding career. He has proven to be a wonderful police officer throughout his 23 years of service."
McCormack said Brown has succeeded in every endeavor he has wanted to do or was assigned to do.
"In administration or operations, as a squad leader, and in all of his ranks, he has performed in an exemplary manner," the chief said. He certainly is a people-oriented supervisor and works very well with all of his associates. I think the world of Stu. I think he’s a wonderful guy. He’s worked hard throughout his entire career. He deserves it."
Explaining why the post had been vacant, McCormack said he was the last person to serve as deputy chief, holding that rank from January 1997 to September 1997 before being promoted to his present position in charge of the department.
"The department wasn‘t really big enough," said the chief. "The general rule of thumb by the Division of Criminal Justice is that when a department has over 60 (officers), you can start to think about (having) a deputy chief. We’re at 62 now, plus 15 civilians."
Brown began his career in 1978 as a special police officer in Colts Neck. He entered the Monmouth County Police Academy after being awarded a scholarship from the Monmouth County Police Chiefs Association. On June 6, 1980, as a member of the 16th basic recruit class, he graduated from the academy.
Hired only a few days after graduation, Brown joined the Manalapan Police Department on June 9, 1980. He was promoted to sergeant in 1992; to lieutenant in 1998; and to captain in 2000. He officially became the department’s deputy chief on May 19.
"We have by far one of the finest municipal police departments in New Jersey," Brown said. "I’m proud to say that it is a privilege and a pleasure to work with such an outstanding group of men and women."
Highlighting his career, Brown recalls starting the department’s Deborah Hospital chapter; serving as the department’s volunteer coordinator/ liaison to the New Jersey Special Olympics, a 10-year post.
He was awarded the department’s Combat Cross following a confrontation with an armed robbery suspect during which gunfire was exchanged. Brown was one of two officers who started the department’s Traffic Safety Bureau and was very much involved in the Amanda Wengert murder investigation.
Brown was born in Freehold Township and grew up in Marlboro and Colts Neck. He is a graduate of the Freehold Township elementary school district and a 1978 graduate of Marlboro High School.
Brown received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from New Jersey City University in 1995 and a master’s degree in public administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2001. He is also a graduate of the West Point Command and Leadership Program in 2002.
Brown resides in Freehold Township with his wife, Nancy Ann, and their children, Stuart, 9, Andrew, 8, and Blair, 5.
"I certainly attribute a great deal of success to my wife, Nancy, who sacrificed endless hours providing the family with the stability and support that allowed me to focus on my career in the first place," said Brown.