Matawan Police Sergeant Retires After 30 Years of Service to Community

Thirty years ago, George Leeuw was a 24-year-old Monmouth County resident who had never really thought about joining local law enforcement.

It was not until he met the now retired Aberdeen Det. Gary Dickey that he even considered the idea. Dickey, who became a close friend and mentor throughout the years, got Leeuw an interview for a dispatcher position with the Aberdeen Township Police Department.

Neither man may have realized it at the time, by Dickey's recommendation guided Leeuw into a passiontate and dedicated life of providing service and protection to Matawan.

"Little did I know at the time the awesome responsibility that comes with being a servant to the community," Leeuw said.

His dedication to that "awesome responsibility" led Leeuw through an abundant thirty year career.

He served for two years as a dispatcher in Aberdeen Township before getting hired as a dispatcher in 1982 for the Matawan Borough Police Department. Just three years later, Leeuw completed training at the Monmouth County Police Academy and was hired as a patrol officer by the borough.

Regularly moving up through the ranks, Leeuw was promoted to a sergeant in 2003. During his career, he also was in charge of implementing a computer network at the police department to manage their records, earned an associates degree in criminal justice at Brookdale, and served as an instructor at the Monmouth County Police Academy.

"The crowning glory of my career was being invited to teach at the Monmouth County Police Academy," Leeuw said.

"They don't take flunkies, so I must have done something right," he said with a laugh.

The Matawan Borough Council honored Sgt. George Leeuw for his thirty years of service to the community at their June 19 meeting.

Mayor Paul Buccellato emphasized Leeuw's role model qualities before presenting him with a proclamation recognizing his service to Matawan.

"I just want everyone to know what type of man we are honoring tonight. In addition to doing police work he recently teamed up with our public works director to coordinate the removal of graffiti throughout several areas in Matawan. He noted that it's a crime that degrades the community and quick removal is one of the ways to deter future acts," Buccellato said.

Lt. Jason Gallo and Lt. Ben Smith also presented Leeuw with a plaque and a retired sergeant's badge.

"We're going to miss Sgt. Leeuw. We look to him for guidance for a lot of things. George is one of our senior offcers in the department," Gallo said.

"I hope your retirement is as fruitful and enjoyable as your career was," said Smith.

Responsibility, loyalty and strong moral fiber were just some of the qualities woven throughout Leeuw's career, who embraces to this day the notion of leading by example.

"Remember," Leeuw said. "That you don't have to wear stripes, or bars, or stars to be a leader. Just apply the Golden Rule."

And although Leeuw retired, he intends to continue to serve the community and hopes to also work part time at the police department to assist with the records management system he helped implement 13 years ago.

"I have no plans to move from Matawan," Leeuw wrote in his letter to the borough announcing his retirement. "As a resident please know I am interested in the welfare of my community and I hope you will not hesitate to contact me if the need arises. I am extraordinarily grateful for the many years of employment that the Borough of Matawan has provided me."

"I certainly want to thank the community. There are so many good people in the borough. Kind, helpful people and business owners," Leeuw said at the council meeting. "It has been an honor and privilege to serve the Matawan as a police officer. It is my utmost hope that along the way I've helped a few citizens by a kind word during first aid calls, by reassuring traffic accident victims that help has arrived, or by arresting threats to the community."

And although he is laying down his badge, he will always hold the experience close to his heart.

"It was a good run," he said."Thank you so much for the memories."