Absecon Police Department

06/01/2026

👏Appreciation for 15 Years of Service👏

The Absecon Police Department is proud to recognize and congratulate Ptl. Dan Howell and Sgt. Dan Markman on reaching 15 years of dedicated service to our department and community.

Throughout his career, Ptl. Howell has served as an Officer in Charge and Defensive Tactics Instructor, helping to train and prepare our officers with the skills necessary to safely and effectively serve the public. His commitment to ensuring officers are adequately trained shows his dedication to both the agency and the profession.

Sgt. Markman has been a tremendous asset to both the department and the community. He coordinates our annual Shop with a Hero program, actively participates in community policing initiatives, and has served as a Drug Recognition Expert, providing valuable expertise in keeping our roadways and neighborhoods safe.

We thank Ptl. Howell and Sgt. Markman for their professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the residents of Absecon. Their service, leadership, and positive contributions over the past 15 years exemplify the values of the Absecon Police Department.

Please join us in congratulating them on this significant milestone and thanking them for their continued service to our community.

05/28/2026

The Absecon Police Department would like to advise the public that the following individuals have been issued valid Solicitation Permits within the City of Absecon on behalf of Renewal by Andersen effective May 28, 2026, through December 31, 2026:

• John Severino
• Kobe El-Bey
• Victor Studioso
• Frank Quinn
• Giovanni Adams-Cassagnol

Each individual has been issued an official identification card. Permit holders are required to carry their identification while soliciting and must present it upon request.

Residents with questions or concerns regarding solicitors are encouraged to contact the Absecon Police Department.

05/28/2026

🚓💪Tug of War Victory 💪🚓

Today, the Absecon Police Department answered the challenge from Mrs. Adams’ third grade class for an official tug-of-war showdown at the Marsh Absecon Public Schools field day.

After a hard-fought battle filled with determination and teamwork, Officer Williams, Officer Adams, Officer Keller, Lt. Huenke and Sgt, Galletta managed to come away victorious for the SECOND year in a row. The students gave us everything they had, and we’re pretty sure a few officers will be feeling it tomorrow.

We’d like to thank the class for being great sports and reminding us of an important life lesson: effort matters… but leverage, coordination, and having (some) officers who don't skip leg day also helps.

We'd like to thank the school for their continued support of the Absecon Police Department and all the amazing volunteers that came out today.

At this time, the Absecon Police Department has respectfully declined all tug-of-war challenges from grades higher than fourth.

We know our limits.

05/22/2026

Arrest Made in Route 30 Wire Theft Investigation

For Immediate Release: May 22, 2026

The Absecon Police Department has concluded a months-long investigation into widespread wire thefts and infrastructure damage along U.S. Route 30 (Absecon Boulevard) between Absecon and Atlantic City.

For several months, streetlights along the Route 30 corridor have been inoperable, creating safety concerns for both law enforcement and the motoring public. In early February 2026, an officer conducting proactive patrols in the area observed a suspicious male within the marsh area adjacent to Route 30. A roadside investigation led to the arrest of Robert Hafner, 58, of Little Egg Harbor Township.

Hafner was found in possession of a large spool of wire and various tools commonly used to facilitate wire theft. He was subsequently charged with multiple counts of Criminal Mischief, Theft, Hindering Apprehension, and Possession of Burglar Tools. Hafner was remanded to the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending court proceedings.

Following the arrest, the Absecon Police Department Criminal Investigations Division continued an extensive investigation into the thefts and resulting infrastructure damage. Detectives conducted warranted searches of electronic devices, recovered physical evidence, and obtained surveillance footage from multiple locations. Through these investigative efforts, detectives identified a co-conspirator as Jordan Berman, 27, of Atlantic City.

Berman is currently wanted by the Absecon Police Department in connection with this investigation.

Atlantic City Electric has been actively assisting investigators throughout the case. The thefts caused substantial damage to critical infrastructure, resulting in costly repairs.

The Absecon Police Department urges anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at (609) 641-0667 ext. 214. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to by calling (609) 652-1234 or by texting “TIPCOP” followed by your message to 274637 (CRIMES).

05/22/2026

05/21/2026

Runaway Juvenile Safely Located

The Absecon Police Department announces that a runaway juvenile, Mehki Shields, has been safely located following investigative efforts conducted by the department’s Criminal Investigations Division.

The juvenile, who had been placed in a foster home within our jurisdiction by a state agency, was reported missing after running away on May 15, 2026.

Detectives immediately began following up on investigative leads, coordinating with outside agencies, and working to ensure the juvenile’s safe recovery. As a result of those efforts, the juvenile was ultimately located safe with family in Camden, NJ.

05/14/2026

📸 Throwback Thursday #3 📸

For our third Throwback Thursday post, we look back to 1988, when the Absecon Police Department, under the direction of retired Chief Rick Mulvahill, worked from the brand-new Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The Emergency Management Center assisted with response to hurricanes, storms and other major events.

According to the Fall 1988 State of New Jersey Office of Emergency Management Newsletter:

“The Absecon Emergency Management Council is an outstanding example of community response to Mulvahill’s outreach for the resources and talents found among his own residents.”

Pictured here are some of those dedicated residents and community leaders who helped make that vision a reality. Starting on the left side:

• Retired Absecon Police Deputy Chief Lee Pattison
• Absecon Fire Department Chief Oscar Dutch
• Retired Absecon Police Chief Joseph Cowan
• Linda Dutch
• Retired Absecon Police Chief Rick Mulvahill
• Former Absecon Police Communications Dispatcher Tom Grohs
• Scott Thomas
• Walter Krug

These individuals represented the spirit of teamwork, volunteerism, and community pride that continues to make Absecon such a great place to live.

05/07/2026

🚔 April 2026 Police Blotter 🚔

During the month of April 2026, officers of the Absecon Police Department continued proactive enforcement efforts and responded to a wide variety of calls for service throughout the community.

Throughout the month, officers conducted 463 motor vehicle stops, resulting in 703 traffic citations, while also responding to 37 motor vehicle crashes. Officers investigated 17 domestic violence incidents, 18 shoplifting/theft related offenses, and 2 burglaries. There were no stolen vehicle reports during the month. In addition, officers conducted 159 community policing activities involving citizen contacts, business checks, school and neighborhood patrols, and other proactive engagements.

A total of 35 arrests were made during April involving a range of criminal and traffic-related offenses. Arrests included charges related to:

• Burglary investigations
• Warrant arrests and contempt of court violations
• Assault and domestic violence related offenses
• Weapons offenses, including unlawful possession charges
• Possession of controlled dangerous substances and drug paraphernalia
• Shoplifting and theft offenses
• Hindering apprehension
• Receiving stolen property / stolen motor vehicle offenses
• Fugitive from justice charges
• Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)

Several arrests stemmed from proactive patrol activity and follow-up investigations conducted by patrol officers and detectives throughout the city.

The Absecon Police Department remains committed to maintaining public safety through proactive policing, traffic enforcement, criminal investigations, and community engagement. We thank our residents and business community for their continued cooperation and support. If you observe suspicious activity or require police assistance, please contact the Absecon Police Department immediately.

04/17/2026

☎️ National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 📞

This week, we take a moment to recognize the unseen heroes who are always there when our community needs them most — our Public Safety Telecommunicators.

The voices who are responsible for calming chaos, multitasking, and somehow understanding every caller....and police officer.... all at the same time.

Your dedication, professionalism, and tireless efforts keep our officers and residents safe every single day. While your work happens behind the scenes, it is absolutely at the heart of everything we do.

The Absecon Police Department is proud to recognize and thank our partners at the Galloway Township Police Department Dispatch Center for their outstanding service and continued commitment to our community.

Because when everything is going wrong… when someone is scared, hurt, or doesn’t know what to do next… you are the first voice they hear. The steady presence. The calm in the storm. The reason help gets there.

That voice matters more than words can ever fully express.

From all of us at Absecon PD — thank you for what you do, and for who you are. 💙

04/16/2026

Throwback Thursday – Round 2 🥊

We’re stepping way back to December 3rd, 1918 at the Atlantic City Sporting Club, where the fight card was stacked and the entertainment was…multitasking at its finest.

One name that jumps off the page? Tommy Hutchinson — listed not only as a boxer, but also the Chief of Police in Absecon. In fact, Hutchinson was Absecon’s first ever police chief. That’s right…imagine getting pulled over in your 1918 Ford Model T by the same guy who might be throwing punches later that night.

The incorporated City of Absecon was only 16 years old. It would be another five years before the opening of Howlett Hardware. With fewer than 1,000 residents, the City of Absecon was experiencing the end of World War I just one month earlier.

In an era when job descriptions were clearly more flexible, Hutchinson proves that public service and prizefighting weren’t mutually exclusive. Protect and serve by day, trade jabs and hooks by night.

Hutchinson served the Absecon Police Department from 1906 to 1930, according to our records. Several years ago we located a black and white photograph of Chief Hutchinson.

We’ve included a newly updated colorized version of that photo of so you can get a better look at the man who balanced law enforcement with life inside the ropes. Something tells us he had the kind of command presence that made people think twice, whether on New Jersey Avenue or in the ring.

While the record books may have lost track of who won that night’s bout, one thing’s clear - Chief Hutchinson walked away having already secured a lasting victory by building the foundation of the Absecon Police Department.

Stay tuned for more glimpses into the wild and wonderful history of the Absecon Police Department.