Police Department History

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The Point Pleasant Police Department was created on July 26, 1920 with the appointment of Albert Fleming as Marshal of the Borough. Marshal Fleming served as an unpaid police officer until Vernon Williams replaced him on June 7, 1924. Marshal Williams was the first uniformed officer and was compensated at the rate of $62.50 per month. During 1926 the Borough Hall was completed at the intersection of Ocean Road and Arnold Avenue. The police department would be headquartered at that location for the next 40 years.

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On April 14, 1928 the Point Pleasant Borough Council accepted the resignation of Marshal Williams effective June 1, 1928. The Mayor appointed Arnold Johnson to succeed Marshal Williams. After serving only 52 days as a Point Pleasant Police Officer Marshal Johnson was killed while performing his duties on Lakewood Road at Florence Avenue at 3:30 PM, on July 22, 1928. Marshal Johnson was just 23 years of age and engaged to be married at the time of his death. Although Marshal Johnson wore the uniform for a very short period of time he will always be remembered by those that follow in his footsteps.

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Upon the death of Marshal Johnson the Borough of Point Pleasant Beach “kindly offered” to have their police officer patrol this Borough until the appointment of John Dunkle as Marshal of the Borough on August 20, 1928. On February 1, 1929 Oscar Hodson was appointed to the newly created position of Assistant Marshall. At that council meeting the Marshal’s salary was set at $1500.00 per year and his Assistant’s at $1200.00.

On March 13, 1930 the council passed an ordinance “to establish, regulate and control a police department in the Borough of Point Pleasant”. Marshal Dunkle was appointed as the first Chief of Police on April 10, 1930. His reign as Chief was cut short by his untimely death in August of that same year. On August 28, 1930 Fred Potter was appointed as a regular police officer and immediately promoted to Chief of Police.

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Chief Potter served the residents of Point Pleasant until his resignation on August 18, 1936. His 6 year term at the helm was the longest of any Marshal/Chief in the short history of the department but it would soon be eclipsed by the tenure of the 4 men that followed him. After accepting the resignation of Chief Potter the council appointed Leon Bresnahan to the position of Chief. During the reign of Chief Bresnahan the police department changed the mode of patrol from motorcycle to car. He relied heavily on the services of several residents who held the title of special police officer.

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On March 19, 1946 Chief Bresnahan resigned his position as Chief but requested that the council continue his employment as a regular police officer. James Pearce was immediately appointed Chief of Police and Chief Bresnahan became Police Officer Bresnahan. During the next 7 years Chief Pearce managed the department as it tripled in size from 2 to 6 officers. The number of special officers also increased during this period. On April 1, 1953 Chief Pearce requested a 1 year leave of absence and Sgt. William Beecroft was appointed acting Chief of Police. With the appointment of Chief Beecroft the department began the long transition to where it stands today.

Chief Beecroft was the first Sergeant in the history of the department and as time went on the importance of that supervisory experience would become apparent. As is well known Chief Pearce never returned from his leave of absence and Chief Beecroft stayed on. The police department budget in his first full year (1954) as Chief was $10,500. Salaries consumed $9000 while $1500 covered other expenditures. During his colorful career as Chief the department grew from 6 to 26 sworn officers and the budget jumped from $10,500 to $600,000. In 1966 the department moved into it’s present headquarters at the newly constructed Municipal Hall on Bridge Avenue. It was a state-of-the-art facility at the time, but as the years passed it took imagination and initiative to make it fit an ever-expanding workforce. On July 1, 1979, after 26 years and 3 months at the helm, Chief Beecroft retired.

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In 1959 Bob Cooper was Honorably Discharged from the United States Navy and came home to work in the family painting business. On February 15, 1962 Bob joined the police department. He was appointed a Detective in 1967 and that was followed by a series of rapid promotions. In 1969 he became Detective Sergeant and was assigned as the Commander of the Detective Bureau. After only 2 years as a Sergeant he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1972 and Captain in 1975. Bob’s early career spanned the turbulent 60’s and 70’s and paralleled the rapid growth of Point Pleasant and the Police Department. During this time Bob returned to school, eventually earning an Associates Degree from Ocean County College and his Bachelors Degree from Monmouth University. In 1976 he attended and graduated the FBI National Police Academy. On July 1, 1979, after only 17 years “on the job”, Captain Cooper was selected to replace Chief Beecroft.

During the past 25 years Chief Cooper has managed the growth and modernization of the police department. Under his leadership we have grown to 58 employees with a proposed fiscal year 2000 budget of 2.8 million dollars. He has been credited with establishing a professional and aggressive police department that is always available to serve and protect the public. Chief Cooper’s enthusiasm and qualifications has lead the Point Pleasant Police Department into the 21st century.

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On February 29th, 2004 Chief Cooper retired and turned the department leadership over to Captain Raymond J. Hilling. On March 2nd, 2004, Captain Hilling was promoted to Chief of Police. Chief Hilling’s elevetion to the top began with his discharge from the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He began his police career as a Special Officer in 1974 with the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department. In 1977 he was appointed to a full time position with the Bradley Beach Police Department. After 2 successful years as a Police Officer in Bradley Beach, he returned home to Point Pleasant when he became the first officer hired by Chief Cooper in 1979. During the 24 years, Police Officer Hilling rose through the ranks while gaining valuable experience in all areas of police work. He has served in patrol, supervised the Traffic Safety Unit, commanded the mid-night shift, and in 1995, he was appointed the Uniformed Bureau Commander. In September of 2000, he was promoted to Captain and appointed the Commander of the Administrative Bureau. Chief Hilling retired on August 31, 2009.

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On September 1, 2009, Captain Lawrence R. Williams was promoted to Chief of Police. Chief Williams began his law enforcement career in April 1976 with Point Pleasant as a Special officer. Shortly after, He left Point Pleasant to join the Brielle Police Department as a regular police officer. He then returned to Point Pleasant in 1977 and was hired as a regular police officer. He rose through the ranks; being promoted to Sergeant in 1985, Lieutenant in 2000 and Captain in 2004. He retired on August 31, 2014.

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On September 1, 2014 Captain Richard P. Larsen was promoted to Chief of Police. Chief Larsen joined the Point Pleasant Police Department in August of 1986 as a Police Officer. In May of 1987 he graduated from the Ocean County Police Academy. During the next 13 years he served as a Patrolman on the Day Shift, Evening Shift and Midnight Shift. In December 1999 he was the first of only two Point Pleasant Officers ever certified as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He was promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant in September of 2000, serving as the road supervisor on the Day Shift, Evening Shift and Midnight Shift. In November of 2004 he was promoted to the rank of Police Lieutenant, serving as the Watch Commander and Officer In Charge of the Evening Shift. In January of 2006 he was appointed as Patrol Commander, supervising and overseeing the entire Patrol Division, including the Traffic Safety Unit. He also served as the Departmental Firearms Range Master, Officer in Charge of Departmental Training, Officer in Charge of Internal Affairs and the Public Information Officer. In September of 2009 he was promoted to the rank of Police Captain, serving as the Operations Commander, supervising and overseeing the Patrol Division, Detective Bureau, Administrative Services and Internal Affairs.

Chief Larsen has received numerous awards and commendations during the course of his career, to include the V.F.W. Post 4715 Policeman of the Year Award for recognition of his outstanding service to the community and the Outstanding Police Award by Mayor and Council of the Borough of Point Pleasant for outstanding performance of excellence in service.

Chief Larsen earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the College of New Jersey. He is a certified New Jersey Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). In June 2011 he graduated from Session 245 of the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico Virginia. Participation in the program is by invitation only through a nomination process. Less than 1 % of the country’s law enforcement leaders and managers are selected. He is married and has four children.

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