Middletown Township

Recently retired Police Deputy Chiefs Joseph F. Braun, Eugene P. Hannafey and Frederick J. Henry and Police Auxiliary Chief John Jarius were commended for decades of dedication to keeping the community safe at the March Township Committee meeting.

Retired Deputy Chief Joseph F. Braun, a Middletown native, retired after 26 years of outstanding service. Braun, who joined the department in 1983, was promoted to Deputy Chief in 1997. He served as Commanding Officer of the Patrol Division and Traffic Safety Bureau. Braun also served for nearly two decades as a key member of the Bayshore Narcotics Task Force and initiated Police Youth Week. He is a life member of the all-volunteer Lincroft Fire Company and Lincroft First Aid Squad.

Retired Deputy Chief Eugene P. Hannafey, a longtime Middletown resident, retired after 37 years of stellar service. Hannafey, a member of the department since 1983, was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2006. He served as Commanding Officer of the Technical Services Bureau. Hannafey is a member of the Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and the township Human Rights Commission and Safety Council.

Retired Deputy Chief Frederick J. Henry, a Middletown resident and United States Air Force veteran, retired after 29 years of dedicated service. Deputy Chief Henry, who joined the department in 1980, spent a significant portion of his career in management positions. Deputy Chief Henry was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2006. He served as the first commander of the newly created Office of Professional Standards which encompasses, training, internal affairs and the accreditation process.

Local officials and volunteers also gathered to commend Retired Police Auxiliary Deputy Chief John Jarius for more than 33 years of dedicated service to all-volunteer organization. Deputy Chief Jarius, a life-long Middletown resident and Navy veteran, joined the Middletown Police Auxiliary in 1976. He volunteered his time to provide security patrols and direct traffic at emergencies as well as fairs, parades and other township events. Jarius also served as an Auxiliary’s liaison to the State Police and Middletown Emergency Management Office. In honor of his service, The Township Committee proclaimed March 15, 2010 as Deputy Police Chief John Jarius Day. Commendations were also presented by state Assemblyman Sam Thompson, the Middletown Police Department and Police Auxiliary.

In addition Police Chief Robert Oches recognized Police Officer Christian Clark for apprehending a suspect that tried to rob the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Hazlet last October. Clark was off-duty and en-route to take the sergeant’s examination when he stopped in the store to drop off a prescription. The employee said the man who just left tried to rob them. Clark told the employee to call 911 and captured the man outside. He was arrested by the responding Hazlet Police Officers. The suspect was charged with robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Clark is Middletown’s Employee of the Month for October 2009.

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