Merchantville Police Department
1 West Maple Avenue
Merchantville, NJ 08109
856-662-0500


Chief Richard J Grassia

856-662-0507

EMERGENCY DIAL 9-1-1
(If you are not sure if the problem is an emergency, dial 9-1-1 and let the police decide)

Non-Emergency Police Number
856-662-0500 24 hours / 7 days

Non-Emergency Office Number 856-662-0507
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Non-Emergency Police CONFIDENTIAL “TIP LINE” 856-662-2474 x366
This line can be used at anytime for Non- emergency tip information. You DO NOT have to give your name or other information about yourself. This line is checked at least once every 8 hours by the officer in charge of the shift. Remember, this is NOT an emergency number.

POLICE ACCIDENT REPORTS

No Smoking Ordinance

Road Closures

2023 Major Discipline Memo

2023 Major Discipline Report

2023 Year End Internal Affairs

2022 Year End Internal Affairs

2022 Major Discipline Report

2022 Major Discipline Memo

2021 Major Discipline Report

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OVERNIGHT PARKING

Parking on the streets and highways of Merchantville is prohibited between the hours of 2:00 am and 6:00 am, 7 days a week without a parking permit. Parking permits can be obtained from police headquarters, M-F, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. If you have a guest staying overnight you must call the Overnight Parking Hotline @ 856-662-2474 ext. 316.

You should be prepared to provide your name, address where the vehicle is parked, phone number, and a description of the vehicle including; make, year, color, and license number. If they will be staying more than one night you have to call the vehicle in every night of their stay.

Any further questions can be answered by calling the Police Non-Emergency phone number 856-662-0507.

PARKING PERMIT APPLICATION

NEW CALL-IN OPTIONS FOR OVERNIGHT PARKING

Residents needing to call a vehicle in for overnight parking now have two options. You can use our new e-mail option by sending a description of your vehicle, including tag number, the location and your phone number to:

overnightparking@merchantvillenj.gov

Residents can still use the overnight phone system if you wish, by calling 856-662-2474, extension 316. If you have any difficulty using either system, please contact the police department using our 24-hour non-emergency number, 856-662-0500 and ask to speak to an officer.

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Firearms Information

Instructions for completing an application for a permit to carry a handgun.

Concealed Carry Protocol

CCARE Protocol– Civilian Carry Assessment Evaluation

Letter from NJ Attorney General

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AG Directive 18-3 State wide POLICE EARLY WARNING TRACKING SYSTEM

{For information click here}

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Internal Affairs Procedures

The members of the Merchantville Police Department are committed to providing law enforcement services that are fair, effective, and impartially applied. It is in the best interest of everyone that a complaint about the performance of an individual employee or the agency in general be resolved fairly and promptly. The Merchantville Police Department has formal procedures for investigating these complaints. These procedures ensure fairness while also protecting the rights of both citizens and employees.

Any person filing a complaint of misconduct concerning a Merchantville police officer is assured of the following:

  • Your complaint will be sent to either a superior or specially trained internal affairs officer who will conduct a thorough and objective investigation.
  • You will be asked to help in the investigation by giving a detailed statement about what happened or by providing other important information.
  • All complaints against employees or the agency in general are thoroughly investigated. You will be advised in writing of the outcome of the investigation.
  • If our investigation shows that a crime might have been committed, the county prosecutor will be notified. You might be asked to testify in court.
  • If our investigation results in an employee being charged with a violation of department rules, you might be asked to testify in a division hearing.
  • If our investigation shows that the complaint is unfounded or that the employee acted properly, the matter will be closed.
  • All disciplinary hearings shall be closed to the public, unless the defendant officer requests an open hearing.

If you have a complaint concerning a Merchantville police officer please fill out the IA-14 Internal Affairs Report Form  (provide as much information as possible) and mail or email the form to the addresses listed below. The Internal Affairs Report Form is available in other languages by clicking here.  If you prefer to remain anonymous when filing your complaint, you may fill out as little or as much as you wish on the complaint form. Keep in mind that more information will be helpful to our investigators. You may also contact the Merchantville Police Department’s Administrative Offices at 856-662-0507.

Via Mail:

Merchantville Police Department
1 West Maple Avenue
Merchantville, NJ 08109
Attention : Internal Affairs Unit

Via Email

ia@merchantvillenj.gov

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NEW: NO – Knock Ordinance

Notice to all residents! If you would like to be placed on the borough’s “No Knock” list please respond to the police department Mon-Fri between 830 a.m. and 430 p.m. to complete your application and obtain your “No Knock” sticker. The “No Knock” sticker will be utilized to inform solicitors that they are not permitted to solicit on your property.


REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

  • To request information for incident reports, accident reports, etc. [Click here]
  • To request for property checks (vacation or away) [Click here]

Complete this form and turn it into Police Dept. or Borough Clerk or mail the form to

Merchantville PD, 1 W Maple Ave., Merchantville, NJ 08109

SOLICITOR PERMITS

All Solicitors require a permit to solicit. Applications can be obtained by stopping in the Police department or [CLICK HERE] for copy. Fill out the application and turn it into the police department.


Officers Now wear Body Worn Cameras

Chief Richard Grassia proudly announces uniformed Police Officers of the Merchantville Police Department deploy Body Worn Cameras.

(for more information click here)


TAKING CHARGE

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR IDENTY IS STOLEN [See Details]

PILL COLLECTION DROP BOX INSIDE BOROUGH HALL- Information here


VEHICLE SECURITY

Please remember to lock your vehicle whenever, and wherever you park it.

Don’t leave anything out in plain sight, on the dash, or the console or seats. If you use a GPS that is either dash or windshield mounted, remember to remove the mounting bracket along with the unit. Leaving the bracket on the dash is a signal that you have a GPS.

Don’t leave change in small compartments in the console or the dash. A thief looks for these signs of valuables in a vehicle. Most thieves will attempt to open a vehicle door. If it is locked they will move on. If they see a cell phone, cash, or a GPS in the vehicle, they may try to break a window to get into it.

It only takes a second to safe guard your valuables. Store them out of sight, and lock the vehicle doors. Let your family, friends and neighbors know these thefts have happened and the best way to prevent it from happening to you is carefully secure your valuables and lock your vehicle.


New Child Safety Seat Laws

(effective September 2015)


The Merchantville Police Department has a permanent pill collection container located in Borough Hall.

Old drugs can be turned in during normal business hours which are Mon-Fri 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The container is located in the main hallway next to the drinking fountain.

If residents have any questions, please feel free to contact the police department at 856-662-0507.


Police Information

Recently there was a suspicious incident where a person went to the door of a private home and identified himself as an alarm company repair man. He had no ID and the resident did not allow him to enter. The police were called, but the individual left the area prior to police arriving. The police did contact the alarm company this person claimed to be working for. They were told that the company never sends anyone to any customer without making an appointment first. Even with an appointment, the alarm company personnel will have proper identification. This is also the same policy for utility workers.

Don’t let anyone in your home if you are not sure of their ID or they do not have any ID. Call the police. Even if you do have an appointment for someone to come to your home to do some work or check some equipment, or read a meter, and you feel uneasy about them, call the police. Let the police check them out. If they are legal they will not mind. You are not required to let anyone into your home.


Burglary Basics

No town is completely safe from crime, and the police can’t be everywhere at all times. Part of the job is up to you to keep your home or apartment safe from burglary.

Take these precautions so you don’t become a victim. Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.

  1. Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.
  2. Leave lights, TV, and/or radio on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.
  3. Do not allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers to build-up while you are away. Arrange for the post office to hold your mail or arrange for a friend or neighbor to retrieve it daily.
  4. Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time.
  5. Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.
  6. If you come home to find an unexplained open/broken window/door, do not enter – the perpetrator may still be inside and do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence.
  7. Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles.
  8. Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons.
  9. Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other “secret” hiding places; burglars know where to look for hide-a-keys.
  10. Form an informal Neighborhood Watch Group with your neighbors.
  11. The MOST important thing YOU can do is CALL THE POLICE to report a CRIME or any SUSPICIOUS activity. You have to be the eyes of your neighborhood. And remember you can always remain a pair of anonymous eyes.

As a service to the residents of Merchantville, the Police Department will gladly record when you will be away on vacation. Patrols will make period checks of your home and we can also record emergency contact information or other special considerations.

Please contact the Police Department Mon-Fri 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at 856-662-0507 to leave an away notice.


Bullying Informationif your child is a victim of Bullying you should first contact the Merchantville Public School.

The above link contains valuable information.


Use of Wellwood Park, or the Community Center grounds can be

applied for through the Clerks Office at Borough Hall.


How to report a street light out?

You can call the Community Affairs Officer at 856-662-2474 x 320

to Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) at 800-436-PSEG (7734)

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The Merchantville Police Department is committed to hiring a diverse group of officers that represent the community they serve. Read more on The Merchantville Police Department Diversity Practices here.