Chief Darren White officially retired from the Mantua police department on March 1 after 25 years of dedicated law-enforcement service.
We honored Chief White by presenting him with a township proclamation at the March 9 committee meeting in front of his family, friends and law-enforcement colleagues. White began his career in Woodbury Heights back in 2001, and was hired by the Mantua department in 2002. He was promoted to sergeant in 2006, lieutenant in 2012 and chief in 2017.
During his career, Chief White earned a master’s degree in public administration, attended the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership (NJSACOP) Command Academy and completed the FBI Law-Enforcement Executive Development Association program. He received more than 20 awards and commendations, and served as Mantua’s NJSACOP accreditation manager.
Throughout his tenure, White was instrumental in helping to establish a shared-services agreement that provides policing services for the borough of Wenonah. He secured tasers for the department, implemented body-worn cameras and instituted the Lexington Plan to increase the life and durability of patrol vehicles. White assigned full-time School Resource Officers (SROs) to all public schools in Mantua, including the SRO ambulance, a visible presence at JMT School.
The chief issued patrol rifles to nearly all officers and secured new handguns for the department. Most recently, he enhanced the K-9 unit so that there are now four teams in the department, and helped the department rank 33 in New Jersey for drug-related arrests in 2024.
On behalf of the township committee and myself, we want to thank Chief White for a career of dedicated service to our community. We wish him much health and happiness in retirement and thank him for the many years of honorable service.
In the interim, Capt. Bill Murphy has taken over the reins as the appointed Officer In Charge (OIC) of our police department. We are currently working through a process that will eventually promote a new police chief from within the ranks of the department.
- – On March 8, we celebrated International Women’s Day and those incredible women who serve our great community, along with the many women who proudly call Mantua home. Your dedication, strength and leadership help make our community a better place for everyone to live, play and raise our families.
Thank you ladies for all that you do. As the father of two daughters, I always stand in support and advocate for women to achieve greatness.
- – Mantua’s board of health hosted its annual free rabies clinic at our public works facility on March 7.
- Deputy Mayor Eileen Lukens and I stopped by to support our wonderful board members: Robert Bamford; Sara Cianci; and Mary Porter, along with Sara’s daughter, Lexi, who volunteered to help.
This is always a great opportunity for residents to obtain the free shot, and get their pets licensing immediately afterwards at the township municipal building.
- – On March 6, the Mantua and Harrison townships’ senior citizen prom was hosted at Clearview Middle School by student council members. Deputy Mayor Lukens, Committeeman Jack Steen, Capt. Murphy, Deputy Commissioner Jim Jefferson and I spent the evening with about 100 seniors who enjoyed dinner and dancing, compliments of the students.
The event was free to seniors as part of a township program. We’d like to commend our Deputy Clerk Pam LeVine and our Recreation Committee, including co-chair Regina DeWitt, for organizing things. We’d also like to thank Clearview Principal Kate Bourquin and student council advisor John Wiseburn for hosting an incredible event enjoyed by all.
- – Committeemen John Legge, Jack Steen and I supported Cub Scout Pack 45 during their Pine Wood Derby competition on Feb. 28 at the Mantua Masonic Lodge. We’re always thrilled to support the youth in our great community, and to experience the incredible work of our local Scouts. Experiencing the Pine Wood Derby brought back some wonderful memories from our own youth. It was special to see the next generation building those same memories. Some traditions never get old – they just get passed down. Great job by all.
- – Tire amnesty week runs from Monday through Friday, March 27. Our department of Public Works will pick up old tires in conjunction with Gloucester County’s amnesty program. The amnesty permits four tires per home, but excludes truck tires and rims.
- – The township’s spring shredding event is slated for Saturday, April 11, from 9 a.m. to noon at the municipal building on Main Street. This is a great opportunity for county residents to rid themselves of old documents in a safe and secure manner.
