Patrol Division

The Rahway Police Department is comprised of sworn law enforcement officers including the ranks of Chief/Director, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Detective, Corporal, and Patrol Officer. The Patrol Division is the largest division within the Police Department with officers assigned to various functions. The primary function of the Patrol Division is to promote a safe environment and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Rahway. The men and women in the Patrol Division are the most recognizable to the general public by the uniform they wear and the marked patrol cars they drive. Often thought of as the “front line”, the patrol division operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

As the law enforcement profession continues to evolve and become more complex, rapid societal changes demand a higher level of awareness and responsiveness. The Rahway Police Department is committed to putting properly trained, determined and professional officers on the streets of our community – those who are devoted to duty and possesses the knowledge necessary to represent the Police Department and serve the community. Proper training is essential to personnel development. Once hired, a Rahway Police Officer is required to successfully complete a 21-week Basic Police Training course at the John H. Stamler Police Academy in Scotch Plains. Semi-annual firearms qualifications are mandatory as well as semi-annual training in Use of Force and Vehicular Pursuits. Officers are also required to attend mandatory in-service training at the Police Academy presented by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.

Bi-annually, Rahway Police Officers are trained in First Responder and CPR, which now includes training on the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). AEDs are high-tech machines that deliver a potentially lifesaving electrical shock to the victim’s heart during a cardiac arrest. The Rahway Police Department realizes the need for early defibrillation and has chosen to employ the use of AEDs to combat the problem. The Patrol Officer is often times the first responder to the scene of a medical emergency and, for this reason, patrol vehicles are now equipped with AEDs.

Civilian Dispatchers, overseen by a Police Supervisor, staff the Communications Center, located within Police Headquarters. All calls to the Police Department, including calls placed to 9-1-1, are received at the Communications Center. Once a call is received, the Dispatcher makes the determination of the resources needed to answer the call for service and then dispatches the necessary emergency personnel to the scene. Calls for Police, Fire, and First Aid, are handled through the Communications Center.