News
MB Appoints New Police Chief
By Ryan Fennell
Monmouth Beach - After a 32-year career in law enforcement Chief Richard White Sr. recently retired from the Monmouth Beach Police Department.
Filling his shoes is Police Chief Drew Winans, 52, a 31-year law enforcement veteran.
Winans began his law enforcement career at the age of 21 in neighboring Long Branch and has served the Monmouth Beach Police Department for the past 17 years.
"It's an honor to become Chief of this department, which is a great department with a great group of men that I have worked with and it's a great town," Winans said. "I've enjoyed all of my positions in the police department whether it be here or in Long Branch and being promoted through the ranks has been a great experience."
Winans said that it wasn't necessarily his childhood dream to become a police officer and eventually the chief of a department, but said that when he was exposed to the field of law enforcement it was something he definitely wanted to continue to pursue.
"When I had the opportunity (to join a police department) I was young, 21, working in Long Branch," Winans said. "I knew it was something I wanted to stay with."
Winans said that during his career there have been many highlights and achievements but his 14-years as the borough's D.A.R.E. officer has definitely been rewarding.
"For the last 14 years plus I've been the D.A.R.E. officer in Monmouth Beach and it's been a great opportunity to meet a lot of kids that have done really great things," Winans said. "I see them now as adults that are starting their own careers and I'm very proud to see that they might have taken a few minutes of the instruction and then done well for themselves."
As far as Winans talking over the helm of the department, he feels that the priority is to maintain and improve the level of service the residents of Monmouth Beach have come to enjoy and expect.
"I want to continue the great service this police department has given to its residents for over 100 years and continue the same service they are used to and would like to continue in the future."
Winans is married to his second wife, Michele, and is the father of two from a previous marriage. Winans daughter also has a son making Winans a proud grandfather as well.
