Hawthorne PD

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Excellence is the baseline.

10/30/2026

Keeping Hawthorne Safe & Fun This Weekend 🎃👻

As we head into Halloween weekend, the Hawthorne Police Department wants to ensure our streets, neighborhoods, and trick-or-treaters stay safe.

Our officers will have an increased presence throughout the borough over the next few days to keep neighborhood streets secure and ensure everyone enjoys the festivities.

A few quick safety reminders for the weekend:

Drivers: Use extra caution, eliminate distractions, and significantly slow down in residential areas. Peak trick-or-treating hours mean excited children darting across streets.

Costume Visibility: Incorporate reflective tape, glow sticks, or flashlights so little ghosts and goblins are clearly visible after dark.

Respect Our Neighborhoods: Pranks that result in property damage, vandalism, or trespassing cross the line into unlawful behavior. Parents, please talk to your teens about staying safe and respecting neighbors' property.

See Something, Say Something: If you see any suspicious activity, hazardous conditions, or need assistance, call our dispatch line at 973-427-1800 or dial 911 for an emergency.

Let’s look out for one another and keep Hawthorne safe and festive. Have a happy and safe Halloween! 🍬

10/29/2026

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1932
RE-LOCATE THE POLICE STATION

"Among the lessons brought home to the borough as a result of the hold-up and attempted robbery of Peoples Bank is the realization that the police station is not in the proper location. Immediately after word was flashed to headquarters that the desperate bandits had visited the bank.

Police Chief Vandervalk, Public Safety Director Houman, and members of the department were all in action seeking to capture the would-be robbers.
But the police were confronted with a serious handicap. With headquarters located the greater part of a mile from the bank precious moments were lost, even if all the motorists along Lafayette avenue seemed to realize that something serious was in progress and made every effort to clear the right of way for the police cars.

Need of more centrally located headquarters for the police department, so often emphasized by Chief Vandervalk is an old story, but it seems that something drastic like the bold attempt to carry off the cash of an important financial institution is necessary to bring to the realization of all that the solution of a vital problem has been overlooked.

Immediate consideration should be given the project of moving police headquarters to a more suitable location, where facilities would be provided to give greater protection to the majority of the business men.

Through their demonstration of courage, efficiency and alertness, Chief Vandervalk and the other members of the department have shown that they are ever ready for immediate action when bandits threaten lives and property. And yet, it must be realized that some inroads are made on efficiency of this courageous and alert department because of the great probability that with hardly an exception desperate hold-up scenes will be staged many blocks distant from present police headquarters on Goffle road."

10/28/2026

For the Citizens Police Academy finale, our students experienced "Patrol Response Day"—navigating a series of simulated, wide-ranging calls for service just like our officers do every shift.

We want to extend a sincere thank you to this year’s participants. Thank you for diving in headfirst, being willing to try something new, and building a stronger bridge of understanding between our community and the badge. 🤝🇺🇸

10/27/2026

Action and education went hand-in-hand at our latest Citizen Police Academy (CPA) class! 🛡️

Participants dove into the essentials of defensive tactics, learning about use-of-force protocols and the foundational techniques police use to safely manage and apprehend resistant suspects.

10/22/2026

Today we throw it back to the 2022 Junior Police Academy!

10/21/2026

Look who dropped by the Fall Festival at Roosevelt School last weekend! 🍂🚓

PO Evan Gocov and PO Jose Ozuna stopped by to join in on the fun and hang out with some of our town's very best future first responders.

10/20/2026

During our latest Citizens Police Academy session, students stepped into the shoes of law enforcement to experience intense "Shoot, Don’t Shoot" scenarios firsthand.

It's an eye-opening look at the high-stress, emotional reality of the badge and the critical thinking required in a fraction of a second.

10/16/2026

Range Days

Thanks to our Range Master Lt. James Geier and his staff for organizing our fall range days!

10/16/2026

🚨TRAFFIC ALERT! NEW STOP SIGNS NOW ACTIVE🚨

There are new stop signs at the following intersections

🛑CENTRAL AVENUE AND 5TH AVENUE
🛑FAIRVIEW AVENUE AT HIGHVIEW TERRACE

Please drive safely and remain alert to these new traffic patterns.

10/15/2026

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Address

Hawthorne, NJ

Telephone

+19734271800

Website

https://linktr.ee/hawthornenjpd

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