West Deptford Police Praised for Work in Bank Robbery

Det. Sgt. Michael Cramer, Investigator John Craig, Investigator Jason Sherman and Investigator Jeffrey Pallies all received certificates of commendable performance.

For their swift handling of the March 20 robbery of the West Deptford Bank of America, West Deptford detectives were cited by the township committee at its May 16 meeting. Det. Sgt. Michael Cramer, Investigator John Craig, Investigator Jason Sherman and Investigator Jeffrey Pallies were all awarded with certificates of commendable performance for their thorough investigation and quick arrest of suspect Michael J. Rowan—which happened within a 26-hour period. "It’s of tremendous importance to be able to close out a case of this magnitude in that short amount of time," said West Deptford Police Chief Craig Mangano. Mangano said that police performed a public service by corraling "a desperate suspect that is going to the extreme of having to …

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West Deptford Police Blotter

Michael J. Rowan Arrested in West Deptford Bank Robbery

West Deptford Police and the fugitive unit of the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office charged the 24-year-old Deptford man in connection with the March 20 incident.

Slightly more than 24 hours after cameras apparently caught him passing a note to a teller at the Bank of America in the Southwood Shopping Center, Michael J. Rowan, 24, of Deptford, was in police custody. West Deptford police said Rowan was arrested without incident and transported to their station house, where they say he confessed to committing the robbery and provided details of how he had done so. According to police, Rowan entered the bank at 2:17 p.m. on March 20, approached a teller and handed her a note demanding money. He did not brandish a weapon nor claim to have one. The teller then allegedly handed Rowan an undisclosed amount of currency, and he left. Fingerprints found on that note matched with those on file in the New …

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Crime Dropped in West Deptford in 2011

Report crime was down almost across the board in West Deptford, according to the latest state statistics.

Residents can rest a little more soundly with the newly released 2011 New Jersey Uniform Crime Report (UCR). West Deptford was among the majority of Gloucester County towns that saw a decrease in crime from 2010 to 2011. West Deptford’s overall crime fell from 523 incidents in 2010 to 466 last year, according to the UCR. The UCR only takes reported crimes into account. The report differentiates between violent (murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault) and nonviolent (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and larceny) crimes. Both categories saw a drop. West Deptford had 20 reported violent crimes in 2011, down from 28 the prior year. With no murders for either year, the number of both robberies and aggravated assaults were almost cut…

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WD Police Department Turns to Twitter

The department's new Twitter account, @WDPolice, helps residents stay informed on the latest in local law enforcement.

With social media putting target audiences just a click away, it’s no wonder so many businesses and organizations are ditching traditional ways of reaching the masses for Facebook and Twitter. Tapping into social media helps groups reach out to those they never could before, and now even local law enforcement is getting in on the action—including the West Deptford Police Department. With the @WDPolice Twitter account up and running since Sept. 27, West Deptford Police Chief Craig Mangano says the account helps police communicate with residents in a very timely fashion.  “[It’s an] initiative to help us get out to the public,” says Mangano. Using Hurricane Sandy as a pilot for the newly established account, the West Deptford Police …

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WDHS S.A.D.D. Members Bring 'Sticker Shock' to Liquor Store

Students will help to discourage underage drinking at Joe Canal's Liquors on Nov. 20.

With the holidays right around the corner, parties and celebrations are no doubt soon to follow. But one thing that shouldn't is underage drinking. That's why it's so important for an initiative like "Sticker Shock" before the holidays, West Deptford Police Chief Craig Mangano said. Sticker Shock will take place at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at Joe Canal’s Liquor located off of Parkville-Station Road. The event is spearheaded by the Southwest Council, which works to combat substance abuse in South Jersey. About a half-dozen students from West Deptford High School will meet with Mangano, a D.A.R.E. officer and a representative of the Southwest Council at the liquor store. Under supervision, the students apply stickers to cases of beer and …

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Operation Take Back Helps Residents Dispose of Unwanted Meds

Residents are encourage to drop prescription medications off at the municipal courtroom on Saturday, Sept. 29.

  Looking for a way to get rid of those old pill bottles from last year’s surgery? Or how about the medication from your last root canal? West Deptford Police have a solution. The West Deptford Police Department will host Operation Take Back on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the West Deptford municipal court room. The annual initiative is held nationwide and designed to get unused prescription medications out of the household and into safe disposal.  Police Chief Craig Mangano says this initiative is effective and helps to serve the community in several different ways. One of the biggest benefits of drives such as this, is getting unused prescriptions out of households and eliminating the risk of others abusing those …

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