The History of the Flemington Borough Police Department

The Borough of Flemington is the County Seat of Hunterdon County and is surrounded by rural Raritan Township. It was originally formed as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 14, 1870. On June 11, 1894 the Town of Flemington became a Village. Finally on April 7, 1910 the village of Flemington incorporated as an independent borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature and separated from Raritan Township. The borough's incorporation was confirmed on April 27, 1931.

On August 6, 1894 under ordinance, the Village trustees of Flemington established a day and night police department to enforce the laws of the State of New Jersey and Flemington. When the Village of Flemington incorporated as a Borough, so did the police department, now becoming the Flemington Borough Police Department.

The first police officer to be hired for the Flemington Police would be Charles Peterson. He was the one and only Police officer. His title at the time was Chief of Police. Chief Peterson was only a part time employee for the village. Later when the Village of Flemington became a Borough, they replaced Chief Peterson with John Walters. Walters was also a part time Police officer and titled Chief of Police.

In 1948 the Borough hired Barton Evans as the first full time Police officer and Police Chief. For awhile, Chief Evans worked alone out of his home, which was located at 54 North Main Street. This was the first location of the Flemington Borough Police Headquarters. A few years later the Borough hired a second full time Police officer to assist Chief Evans. Later on the Borough hired several part time Special / Auxiliary Police officers to assist the full time officers. As the department grew in the 1960s the Borough moved the Police Departments headquarters from 54 North Main Street to 68 Park Avenue (current location of Flemington Fire Department and Borough Hall).

In 1979 Chief Evans retired from the Flemington Police Department with 31 years of service. The Borough of Flemington then appointed Lieutenant Peter J. Tirpok as the new Chief of Police. Chief Tirpok would then go on to run the Police Department until his retirement in 2004. During these years the Flemington Police Department would grow to 15 full time Police officers. When Chief Tirpok retired he had put in a total of 39 years of service to the Borough of Flemington. When Chief Tirpok retired the Borough of Flemington appointed then Sergeant George A. Becker as the next Chief of Police. Chief Becker acted as Chief of Police until his retirement in December of 2016. Lieutenant Jerry Rotella Jr was appointed as the new and current Chief of Police.

Paramount Pacemaker: (K10-3) Country Cop (1951)

Overview

Director: Justin Herman, Writer: Justin Herman (written by), Release Date: 8 December 1951 (USA)

Plot Summary: With Narrator Ward Wilson pointing out that the biggest thing that had ever happened in Flemington, New Jersey occurred in 1934 when the Lindbergh-kidnap case reached its climax in the Flemington courthouse, the Pacemaker camera shows that Flemington is a very quiet town in 1951, so local policeman Bert Evans has a very pleasant job. The rest of the picture portrays his work and duties.

Cast (Credited cast)

Narrator: Ward Wilson, Flemington N.J. Policeman: Bart Evans

Additional Details

Runtime: 10 min, Country: USA, Language: English, Color: Black and White, Sound Mix: Mono, Certification: USA: Approved, Filming Locations: Flemington, New Jersey, USA, Company: Paramount Pictures

Photo Gallery