Department History

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The Byram Township Police Department existed since the 1930’s as a part-time police force. On April 7, 1971 the Byram Township Police Department was established as a full time Department with four full time sworn personnel including Eskil S. Danielson who was appointed as the Department’s first full time Chief of Police. The newly formed Department then assumed all policing duties for the Township from the New Jersey State Police on April 15, 1971. The Department grew from four full time Officers to ten full time Officers by 1975. Currently the Department has fourteen sworn Officers.

After the retirement of Chief Danielson, the Byram Township Police Department has been led by the following Chiefs of Police:

Chief John M. Gutwerk – December 1, 1993 – April, 2005

Chief Raymond F. Rafferty – November 1, 2005 – December, 2015

Chief Peter J. Zabita – February 5, 2016 – January 31, 2020

Chief Kenneth J. Burke – February 1, 2020 – January 31, 2024

Chief Daniel J. DeWald – February 6, 2024 – Present

In 1979 the Department established a crime scene investigation unit and the Department’s arson investigation unit was also established. Since that time at least two officers have been certified in fire investigations. Those units were followed by an accident reconstruction unit in 1987 which still responds and documents all serious and fatal motor vehicle accidents. The Department began a community policing unit in 1991 and also began teaching the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in the Byram Intermediate School that same year. In 2005 the Department was able to establish an ATV Unit with funding provided by the Hudson Farm Foundation. In 2008 the Department had two Officers trained in crisis/hostage negotiations creating a crisis negotiation unit. In 2010 the Department began participating in Operation Take Back collecting unwanted prescription and over the counter medications twice a year in the spring and fall. These medications are then turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for environmentally friendly destruction. In 2016 the Department installed a 24 hour unwanted prescription and over the counter medication collection box in police headquarters to provide year round drug disposal services to our residents. In 2013 the Department switched from teaching the D.A.R.E. program to the L.E.A.D. program (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) due to changes at the national level affecting the D.A.R.E. program’s lesson plans. In 2016 the department established a safe exchange location to provide our residents a safer place for buyers and sellers to complete sales made on Craigslist, ebay or through any other method. Several other Department’s in the County joined the growing national trend and designated safe exchange locations in their jurisdictions. In March of 2016 the Department also began its annual Cram the Cruiser food drive collecting food donations for food pantries within Sussex County which then expanded to include all law enforcement agencies throughout the County.

The following is a list of Officers who have honorably served and retired from the Byram Township Police Department:

Chief Eskil S. Danielson 1971 – 1993

Lieutenant Chester F. Olivo Jr. 1977 – 1994

Patrolman Henry M. Shubert 1971 – 1994

Patrolman Leon N. Clouse 1972 – 1994

Sergeant George E. Schultz Jr. 1975 – 2000

Sergeant James C. Godumski 1975 – 2000

Sergeant Joseph A. Lamonica 1975 – 2001

Beatrice F. Eriksen, Records Clerk 1973 – 2001

Patrolman Eric Lefkowitz 1981 – 2004

Chief John M. Gutwerk 1974 – 2005

Patrolman Phillip DeSmet 1994 – 2006

Detective John M. Hulse 1987 – 2011

Tina Stopa, Records Clerk 1986 – 2011

Sergeant Greg J. Gamski 1987 – 2012

Detective Joseph “Todd” Duffy 1988 – 2012

Chief Raymond F. Rafferty 1990 – 2015

Chief Peter J. Zabita 1996 – 2020

Patrolman John A. D’Onofrio 1994 - 2020

Lieutenant Brian Moreland 2005 - 2022

Detective Robert Tierney 2007 - 2022

Chief Kenneth Burke 1994 – 2024