As police officers for the Township, officers automatically become part of the community even if they live elsewhere.  Officers have spoken at summer camp programs, given bicycle and pedestrian safety presentations to grammar school children, and even represented the Township in the NJ Special Olympics Torch Run.  Many interactions go unnoticed, such as the patrol officer stopping to patronize a lemonade stand set up by a promising young entrepreneur on a hot summer day.

The West Caldwell Police Department maintains a "Community Policing" attitude and its members look forward to meeting you at one of our events!

For information about any event, please email us at WCPDevents@westcaldwellpd.com.

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The West Caldwell Police Department offers the opportunity to register any special needs residents may have in order to better assist residents during times of crisis.  Special needs may include several different types of diagnosed medical conditions, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, or Autism Spectrum Disorder.  However, “special needs” are certainly not limited to these conditions and any additional special needs or considerations should also be reported to our agency.

A fillable PDF form has been added to the “Forms” bar at the right side of this page and can be completed and returned at your convenience.  In addition, the following link will allow access to a form that automatically gets returned to our agency upon submission: Special Needs Program Form.

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We encourage residents and business owners to sign up for NIXLE alerts and SWIFT-911 alerts. 

NIXLE will be utilized by the Township to alert subscribers to routine, newsworthy information such as road closures or special events.

SWIFT-911 will be utilized to alert subscribers to emergency information.

(Both systems can be accessed by clicking on the links above or by clicking on the appropriate graphics in the column on the left side of the page.)

The Police Department is the first responding agency to any emergencies that occur within the Township.  To provide the best possible service, the Police Department formed the Emergency Services Unit in 1991.  A total of 10 officers certified as NJ State Emergency Medical Technicians are currently assigned to the ESU.  These EMTs are assigned to the various patrol squads to provide consistent pre-hospital care. 

Officers must maintain their certification by attending a 24 hour re-certification class every three years and earning 24 elective hours of continuing education during this same period.  These elective classes include such topics as basic trauma life support, pediatric emergency care, patient evaluation, and vehicle extrication.  In addition, all officers in the department, including those assigned to the ESU, are certified in CPR and use of the automated external defibrillator or AED.  

Each year, the ESU handles over 600 medical emergencies, in addition to serious motor vehicle crashes, fires, and calls where additional equipment is needed.  Throughout the year, members work closely with the West Essex First Aid Squad, the West Caldwell Fire Department, and various paramedic units from several area hospitals to provide the best possible outcome to each and every crisis.

The Chevrolet Tahoe ESU vehicle pictured here is equipped with many specialized items that may be necessary to handle an emergency.  Some of these items include a ballistic shield, rams for forced entries, bolt cutters, multiple fire extinguishers, and night vision and thermal imaging equipment.  Medical equipment carried in the vehicle includes standard first aid items, splints, a backboard, a suction unit for airway management, an obstetrics kit, a pulse oximeter for measuring the percentage of oxygen in the patient's blood, an AED, and a triage kit for prioritizing patients at large-scale incidents.

The Police Department maintains a Traffic Unit of several officers who are assigned to patrol squads.  Responsibilities of the Traffic Unit include investigating motor vehicle crashes with serious injuries or fatalities, collecting and analyzing traffic data, identifying problematic areas on roadways and making recommendations to alleviate the issues, ensuring that all radar units and equipment are calibrated, and training all department members in the operation of radar.

On-scene crash investigation tools:

New Jersey Self-Reporting Accident Form SR-1 ("State Form")

The Detective Bureau is tasked with the responsibility of conducting criminal investigations, following up on investigations started by the Patrol Division, conducting background checks for various purposes, and overseeing firearms licensing.

Firearms Application Procedure: (West Caldwell Residents Only)

Step 1: Visit this website: https://www.njportal.com/NJSP/fars
 
Step 2: Enter the West Caldwell Police Department ORI #: NJ0072100
(You WILL NOT be able to successfully submit a FARS online application WITHOUT THE PROPER ORI#)

Step 3: Complete the online application. You may complete the application using a smartphone, mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer. When completing the application, you will need the correct email addresses of two (2) reputable references.

• Please advise your references that the FARS system will email them the reference questions to be answered. Your references can complete the questions using a smartphone, mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer. Please advise them to complete the questionnaire as soon as possible to allow your background investigation to proceed.
   
• You will be receiving automated email updates throughout this new process. The emails are automatically generated by the FARS system.  Please do not contact the police department for updates.
   
• Disclosure of your social security number and driver’s license details are voluntary. However, without it, the processing of the application may be delayed.
   
• The online application is applicant-driven. Please ensure that you have entered the best contact information for you and your references.

Step 4: Once your application has been reviewed and the criminal history responses are received from the state, a Detective will contact you to make an appointment to review your application, verify your address, and to pay the mandatory application fees.  Your application will not be processed until you have paid for the FID Card/Pistol Permits. Pistol Permits are $25 each and the fee for an initial FID Card application is $50. Non-refundable payment is required prior to the completion of the background. Payments may be made by check or money order. Make checks or money orders payable to "Township of West Caldwell” and include your FARS confirmation number on the memo line.  
 
Step 5: You will receive an email stating final approval from the automated system indicating that your Firearms Identification Card has been approved and is ready for download and/or the E-Permit to Purchase a Handgun is active and ready to be used.

Five dispatchers provide around the clock coverage and are often the first point of contact for many of our calls for service.  In addition to fielding phone calls on a total of seven business lines and four incoming 911 emergency lines, dispatchers also direct police, fire, and EMS units to respond to emergencies, log these emergencies in a computer-aided dispatch system, check vehicles and individuals through state and national computer information systems, greet people as they walk into the police department for assistance, and assist with the monitoring of prisoners as necessary.  Needless to say, our dispatchers are constantly multitasking.
 
One full-time records administrator files completed reports, responds to discovery requests from attorneys, and distributes reports as requested.  The Records Room is open Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 12 pm, and again from 1 pm to 3pm, excluding holidays.  To reach the records room, please contact the Police Department at 973-226-4114 and ask for records.

For information on the Open Public Records Act, please click here.

Statewide Text to 9-1-1 in New Jersey.  For more info, click here.

The Police Department responds to all types of alarms for residences and businesses 24 hours a day.  Occasionally, it becomes necessary to contact a homeowner or business representative when no one is available on scene.  To assist with having the proper information available during these times, the Police Department maintains a file of alarm registrations.  In addition, Local Ordinance 6-1.6 requires the registration of any alarmed premise within the Township. 

To assist the owners of such buildings with providing the proper information, a form has been created with the required information.  Please click the link below to access this form.  The form can be returned to the Police Department in person, via US mail, or by fax (973-403-0836.)  If any of the information changes, please be sure to complete and return a new form.

Alarm and Business Registration Form

As a service to business owners, the Police Department also offers the opportunity to register un-alarmed businesses.  This ensures that the Police Department always has contact information in the event it becomes necessary to notify the owner or a designee of any emergency at the business.  The same form may be used, but please indicate that there is no alarm at the location. 

Please help us be prepared to better serve you! 

(Local Ordinance 6-1.6 mentioned on the form requires alarm system users to register the alarm with the police department, state which type of alarm or alarms are in use at the location, provide the name of the alarm company and a contact number, provide a list of emergency contacts, and ensure that any external audible signal resets within 30 minutes of activation.)

The West Caldwell Police Department strives to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and respect towards the public we serve. We take all complaints alleged towards our personnel seriously and our Internal Affairs Bureau will thoroughly investigate all allegations of police officer or civilian department personnel behavior that involves criminal conduct, misconduct, abusive or discriminatory behavior, neglect of duty, corrupt activity, inappropriate conduct or violations of rules and regulations of the West Caldwell Police Department.

We will accept all complaints including anonymous complaints, third-party complaints, and complaints from unaccompanied juveniles (we would prefer parental or guardian involvement).

We will accept complaints in-person, by telephone, letter or online via our IA Complaint form. If you cannot come to our agency to file a complaint, we can come to a location suitable to you.

We will not ask a complainant about their immigration status.

How to File a Complaint:

In Person

In person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the West Caldwell Police Department, located at 21 Clinton Road, West Caldwell, NJ 07008. If a member of our Internal Affairs (IA) Bureau is working, they will assist you with filing your complaint. If there is no Internal Affairs officer working, please ask for the highest-ranking supervisor on duty; however, any officer can and will accept your complaint. No one seeking to file a complaint will be turned away or dismissed because a member of the Internal Affairs Bureau or a police supervisor is not available.

At your home or the location where the incident occurred. You may request that a supervisor respond to your location to take your complaint; however, any officer can respond and will accept your complaint.

By Telephone

By Telephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling our department at (973) 226-4114. Ask to speak to the supervisor on duty; however, any officer can and will accept your complaint. You are not required to provide your name or other identifying information should you wish fo remain anonymous.

Online

The IA Complaint Form is available in 11 languages and can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate Complaint Form. The form can be completed by hand or computer and submitted to our agency in person by dropping a copy off at our department, via email by sending a copy to dbeere@westcaldwellpd.com, or by mail as described below. An Internal Affairs Bureau investigator will contact you to confirm receipt of your complaint unless you choose to remain anonymous.

Mail

The complaint form or any correspondence reporting a complaint to our agency can be sent via U.S. Mail or dropped off at our department. Please write a letter or note and address it to:

Chief of Police Dennis A. Capriglione, Jr.
West Caldwell Police Department
21 Clinton Road
West Caldwell, NJ 07006

When writing a letter, please keep in mind that the more information you provide about what happened, the better we can assist in addressing your concerns.

Internal Affairs Policy

Law Enforcement Drug Testing Policy

Recruitment

2020 West Caldwell Census Data

Statewide Text to 9-1-1 in New Jersey.  For more info, click here.

Strengthening Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities

Statewide Text to 9-1-1 in New Jersey.  For more info, click here.