Barnegat Police Chief's Focus On Drug-Related Crime Pays Off

Barnegat Police Chief Arthur P. Drexler has made drug-related crime a priority ever since  his appointment in 2006.

"This commitment was perhaps most evident the past few years in his decision to continue fully staffing the Barnegat Police Narcotics Unit, despite the fact that the agency's personnel resources were steadily depleted by 15 percent through attrition due to retirements, Lt. Keith Germain said.
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That commitment shows in the numbers. The Barnegat Police Narcotics Unit has arrested nearly 250 individuals and seized over $160,000 in drugs, U.S. currency, and vehicles since 2010, he said. 

The unit has made 96 drug arrests so far in 2013, up 10 percent since last year. Officers have seized $95,000 in drugs, currency, and vehicles, up nearly 200 percent since 2012, Germain said.

Here is a breakdown of the value of seizures since 2010, by category. Totals for 2012 are in parenthesis:

• Vehicles:  $56,573 - ($26,839)

• U.S. Currency: $47,053 - ($40,290)

• Prescription drugs: $29,276 - ($15,940)

• Heroin: $19,525 - ($5,985)

• Cocaine:  $4,821 -  ($1,650)

• Marijuana: $4,174    ($3,845) 

"The Barnegat Police Department wishes to thank the residents of Barnegat, who continue to support the department's efforts and embrace community policing by reporting suspicious activity, providing critical information, and working hand in hand with our agency toward achieving our mutual goal of a safe and drug-free Barnegat, Germain said."