LONG BRANCH — A resident has stepped up with funding to help law enforcement agencies locate an assailant who attacked a police officer this past September.
Officials have been seeking the community’s help in providing information on the attack on Long Branch Officer Michael Monahan, which occurred on Sept. 21.
The resident, Vin Gopal, has committed to donate $5,000, along with the State PBA’s $25,000 reward, through the NJ Cop Shot program and Monmouth County Crime Stoppers. That effort will increase the total award to $30,000.
New Jersey State PBA President Pat Colligan reiterated the importance of the community’s assistance with providing information.
“We appreciate a Long Branch resident stepping up in order to bring attention back to the issue,” he said. “It has been nearly two months since the incident, and it is important we capture the individual who assaulted Officer Monahan.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Joe Spitale of the Long Branch Police Department at 732-222-1000.
Rewards will be given for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of any suspect(s) in the assault of a police officer.
The New Jersey State PBA is asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers of Monmouth County at 1-800-671-4000 or text “TIPPCOP” and your tip to 274637 (CRIMES). NJ Cop Shot is a program run by the New Jersey State PBA.
There are two ways to report a crime while remaining completely anonymous.