Community Corner

Matawan Appoints Acting Chief for Borough Police Department

Lt. Jason Gallo has served as the commanding officer of the department for three years.

The Matawan Borough Council unanimously voted to promote Lt. Jason Gallo to acting police chief of the Matawan Borough Police Department at their April 16 meeting. 

Gallo, a police officer in Matawan for the past 21 years, began his career in law enforcement as a special officer in Keyport in 1991. Gallo served as the commanding officer over the last three years, while the borough sorted out its differences with James Alston, the now retired police chief who was demoted and later reinstated after a series of legal battles.

Mayor Paul Buccellato explained that Gallo's leadership over that turbulent time made him a prime candidate for the position.

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"He was selected based on his performance during a very difficult time that the Matawan Borough Police Department was going through. He held the department together and made sure the essential services to the borough were not interrupted," Buccellato said. "We are very proud of what he achieved over the last three years."

Gallo is looking forward to taking over the department in an official capacity.

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"I'm very humbled and I welcome the challenge of bringing the department in a positive direction," he said. "I'm fortunate to be surrounded by excellent officers."

He will be sworn in officially as the police chief by the borough on Thursday, June 6. 


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