The Atlantic County Regional SWAT Team is a multi-agency, regional tactical team in Atlantic County commanded by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.  The team is comprised of members from various police agencies within Atlantic County including the Absecon Police Department. The Absecon Police Department currently has one officer assigned to the county SWAT Team.

The SWAT Team is responsible for resolving situations requiring extraordinary police actions, tactics, or equipment.  The goal of SWAT is to resolve high-risk situations while preserving life and limiting hazards to citizens, police personnel and suspects.  The SWAT Team’s activities include, but are not limited to, the following missions: high-risk warrant service, barricaded suspects, hostage situations, surveillance and intelligence gathering, drug raids, dignitary protection, tactical operations, crowd control/riot duties and any other specialized operation outside the scope of normal patrol officer duties.

SWAT candidates must undergo a demanding testing process to be selected as a member of SWAT. The testing process includes approval from the officer’s Chief Executive at their agency, followed by a physical fitness test, firearms qualification, oral interview conducted by SWAT Team Leaders and a psychiatric evaluation. Officers are required to achieve high evaluations during the testing process and maintain those high standards throughout their time on the team. Officers accepted to the county SWAT team go through a year-long probationary period and are expected to pass the same physical fitness and firearms qualification standards each year as part of annual testing.

SWAT Team members attend regular team training including specialized training in areas of breaching barricades, less-lethal munitions, emergency medical aid, and sniper/observer duties. SWAT Team members are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to emergent situations within Atlantic County. The SWAT Team works closely with members of the Atlantic County Crisis/Hostage Negotiations Team to accomplish their missions.

The Absecon Police Department’s Crash Investigation Unit is comprised of members with specialized training as it relates to motor vehicle crashes.  In addition to their regular patrol duties, the unit is tasked with investigating serious and fatal motor vehicle crashes within the City of Absecon.  Unit members attend rigorous courses, based in math, to gather relevant data from a crash scene.  These courses include but are not limited to: Basic Crash Investigation (Crash I), Advanced Crash Investigation (Crash II), Pedestrian/Bicycle Crash Investigation, Motorcycle Crash Investigation, LASER Operator, Vehicle Dynamics, and Traffic Crash Reconstruction.

This specialized training allows unit members to:

• Complete to-scale diagrams of crash scenes utilizing precise laser measurements
• Analyze a vehicle for crush data
• Accurately measure roadway evidence
• Perform a post-crash vehicle inspection
• Reconstruct a crash scene
• Accurately determine speed of a vehicle at the time of a crash
• Retrieve data from a vehicle utilizing the Event Data Recorder (“black box”)
• Determine if and when motor vehicle and/or criminal charges are appropriate from a crash

The Crash Investigation Unit is also responsible for reviewing Absecon Police Department’s NJTR-1 crash reports and submitting them to several outside agencies for record keeping purposes.  The unit receives yearly training in NJTR-1 updates and modifications.

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The Absecon Police Department, with the cooperation of the Emma C. Attales Middle School, conducts the L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) program with 5th grade students. This program consists of ten lessons where students learn about goal setting, decision making, effective communication, peer pressure and the effects of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. At the conclusion of the program, the students attend a graduation ceremony where they are honored for their efforts in engaging in the program content.

The Patrol Division is the largest organizational section of the Absecon Police Department. The Patrol Division is commanded by a Lieutenant who oversees four Patrol Squads. Each Patrol Squad is supervised by one Sergeant who is responsible for their patrol officers.

Sergeants and Patrol Officers assigned to the Patrol Division work a 12-hour rotating schedule which alternates between day and night shift every four weeks. On a daily basis, Patrol Officers on each squad are assigned to geographical areas known as “Wards”. Within the wards, officers respond to calls for service, enforce traffic laws, and conduct property checks. Officers interact with the community to build partnerships based on trust. They engage in proactive policing to reduce crime, creating a safe environment which enhances the quality of life in our community.

Officer assignments are data driven. A careful analysis of crime trends and quality of life issues dictate how and where resources are deployed on a daily basis to address concerns within the community.

In accordance with guidelines set forth by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, The Absecon Police Department has equipped it's sworn personnel with body worn cameras (BWC) that, with very limited exceptions, will record all interactions with the public using video and audio. Below are two examples of how the cameras may be worn by uniformed and plain clothes officers, so that it will be easier for members of the public to be more aware that a recording device may be in use. Body worn cameras have been in service with the Absecon Police Department since 2017.

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How the BWC may appear on a uniformed patrol officer.		How the BWC may appear on a non-uniformed officer.

Every year during the holiday season, members of the Absecon Police Department partner with the Atlantic County Toys for Kids Program to take part in our annual Absecon Police Department Christmas Toy Drive. It’s a hugely successful program that is growing every year because of the generosity of the public.

Members of the Absecon Police Department handpick families in our community to receive gifts each year. During the month of December donations are collected at the police department. A toy bin is placed in the lobby at City Hall.

Toys are delivered by Santa Clause with help from the Absecon Fire Department. Christmas comes early to the children in Absecon! The police and fire department parade around the city; it’s a wonderful memory the children of Absecon will remember!

Members of the Absecon Police Department look forward to this humbling experience each and every year. Without the help of our community, none of this would be possible. Our success is attributed to all those that donate!

If you are interested in the program or would like additional information, please contact Patrolman Keith Epstein #864 at kepstein@abseconpd.org

Stay up to date by visiting the Absecon Police Department on Facebook and Instagram.

The Absecon Police Department Criminal Investigations Division is responsible for conducting investigations related to crimes committed within the city of Absecon. Detectives in this unit process crime scenes to recover forensic evidence, conduct victim, witness and suspect interviews as well as prepare and execute search warrants related to their investigations. The Absecon Police C.I.D. also oversees the City’s Megan’s Law offenders, the prescription drug drop off box and maintains the custody and transfer of evidence.

The Records Unit is responsible for storing, maintaining, and dispersing all police reports and documents. Please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below for more information. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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