West Wildwood Residents Rally to Save Local Police Department

West Wildwood, N.J. -- Residents of West Wildwood are mobilizing to protect their police department, fearing its dissolution after a recent report recommended contracting services to another jurisdiction. The campaign, active on social media, includes plans for an informational protest at Borough Hall on June 6, 2025, at 6:15 p.m., ahead of the 7 p.m. commissioners’ meeting. Supporters are spreading awareness through letters and calls to action, urging the borough to preserve local policing.
The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, in a 28-page report commissioned by the borough, cited issues like inadequate leadership, training, and recruitment within the department. It suggested four options: running a professional full-time force, sharing a police chief, adopting a shared-services model, or contracting with another department, favoring the latter with potential ties to Wildwood’s police.
The report, available at westwildwood.org, sparked backlash from residents who value the department’s community presence. Mayor Matt Ksiazek defended the borough’s transparency, noting ongoing efforts to address staffing challenges despite hiring and losing over 20 officers in recent years. The 2025 budget allocates $970,602 for nine full-time and two part-time officers, though only five are currently active. Residents argue the department’s personal touch is vital to their close-knit community and are pushing for a referendum to decide its fate.