BRICK – The township Police Department promoted Detective Ryan Talty to the rank of sergeant while highlighting community policing during the annual Reorganization meeting.
Mayor Lisa Crate performed the swearing in, accompanied by Police Chief David Forrester. Sgt. Talty is a lifelong resident of the township and has served on the Brick Police Department since 2011.
The new sergeant has served in the Patrol Division, as a field training officer, Police Explorer and a member of the Honor Guard, Chief Forrester said.
In 2016, Sgt. Talty was assigned to the Selective Enforcement Team, and two years later joined the Street Crimes Unit. In 2020, he transitioned to the Detective Bureau where he focused on investigating computer and financial crimes. He has been a member of the Special Emergency Response Team since 2014. He is currently assigned to the Patrol Division as a patrol supervisor.
A number of police officers came to the Township Council meeting to celebrate the promotion of Sgt. Ryan Talty. (Photo courtesy Brick Police)
According to the township, his awards include the 2013 Officer Kris Demarco Police Officer of the Year and the 2022 Lt. Thomas McNelis Leadership and Achievement Award. He also achieved awards for Meritorious Service, Exceptional Duty, Honorable Service, Grand Cordon, Life Saving, and multiple Chief’s Certificates.
Business Administrator Joanne Bergin said when there’s a promotion in the Police Department, it means someone else has retired.
“I feel compelled to acknowledge that we have the retirement of another sergeant, Sgt. Ryan Valeri,” she said. “Sgt. Valeri served this township exceptionally well in so many ways, and has received accolades as well.
“Sgt. Valeri leaves his mark on this department and on the leadership that he showed to a lot of the younger officers, and acknowledging Sgt. Talty’s promotion – also, to me – is thanking Sgt. Valeri for his exceptional service.”
Chief David Forrester, left, joined recently promoted Sgt. Ryan Talty. (Photo courtesy Brick Police)
During her comments, Mayor Crate thanked the police and all township employees for their hard work and dedication. “I want you to know that the work that you do is important and appreciated,” she said.
In 2024, the township police answered 100,206 calls for service. In the Emergency Medical Services division, the EMTs responded to 11,229 calls for service.
“I’m excited for all that’s to come in 2025, and with the support of the council I’m looking forward to expanding on the many programs we work together on in 2024, starting with our amazing community policing…with officers who are building relationships every single day,” she said.
Police officers are on the front line of building relationships with township youth with programs that educate students about the dangers of opiate abuse, such as Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) for elementary school students, the LEAD and SEED programs for middle school students, and Not Even Once program for high school students, Mayor Crate said.
The mayor highlighted the expanding Neighborhood Watch Program, of which there are currently 57. Some 33 Neighborhood Watch meetings were held in 2024 and were attended by over 1,200 residents.
Through these meetings and other information sessions, the department collected 1,656 pounds of medication in 2024, she said.
Ryan Talty is sworn in as a sergeant by Mayor Lisa Crate. (Photo courtesy Brick Police)
“I encourage all residents to reach out to our community policing department,” she said. “If you don’t already have a Neighborhood Watch program started where you live, the information that is shared at those meetings is invaluable and specific to your neighborhood.”
It’s a great way for residents to understand how the police work daily to keep township residents safe, Mayor Crate said.
Police Officers Victoria Finelli, Terrence Berkeley and Dan Kenny run the Neighborhood Watch program.
In a phone call after the meeting, Officer Finelli said every retirement community has a Neighborhood Watch program, and some neighborhoods have more than one when they are broken down into different sections.
“The way it works is someone contacts us and we have an initial meeting and explain what the program is,” she said. “We create a contact list and each Neighborhood Watch community has one contact liaison.”
For more information about creating a Neighborhood Watch program for your area, call 732 262-1158.
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