Wildwood Crest Names New Police Chief and Captain

PRESS RELEASE

Two members of the Borough of Wildwood Crest Police Department were officially promoted during a ceremony held at borough hall on Friday, Sept. 30.

Joseph McGrath, a 22-year veteran of the Wildwood Crest Police Department, was promoted from captain to chief. McGrath began his career in law enforcement as a Class II officer in Wildwood Crest in 1993, later worked for one year as a police officer in West Wildwood and was eventually hired as a full-time police officer by Wildwood Crest in 1995.

“I appreciate the outpouring of support from all the members of the police department, the borough commissioners and the Wildwood Crest community,” McGrath said. “I will do my very best to help our department and our community move forward in a positive direction.

"I am very proud that Wildwood Crest is a great place to live and visit and I look forward to continuing to serve the community in the best way possible. I’d also like to thank the hard-working men and women of the Wildwood Crest Police Department for everything they do each and every day, as well Mayor (Carl) Groon and our borough commissioners for placing their faith in me.”

Robert Lloyd, a 13-year veteran of the force, was promoted from lieutenant to captain. Lloyd worked for one summer as a Class II officer in Avalon in 2002 before first being hired in Wildwood Crest as a Class II officer in 2003. He joined the Wildwood Crest Police Department fulltime the following year.

“I am very honored for the opportunity to serve as captain of the Wildwood Crest Police Department,” Lloyd said. “I look forward to helping lead a very professional, hard-working, dedicated and loyal group of men and women. I will always be proud to be a member of this police department and I consider it an honor to be able to work under Chief McGrath.”

McGrath and Lloyd were sworn in to their new positions by Borough of Wildwood Crest deputy clerk Patricia Feketics.

Also present at the ceremony were Groon, the Commissioner of Public Safety; Wildwood Crest Public Safety Director Eugene Taylor; Wildwood Crest Commissioners Don Cabrera and Joyce Gould; and many family members, friends and fellow officers of the two promoted police officers.