First full-time female officer honored during heritage month in seaside park

A police officer who broke barriers as Seaside Park’s first full-time female officer is being recognized for her service and community leadership during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Seaside Park Police Department highlighted Patrol Officer Stilton, a first-generation Filipino American, for her contributions to law enforcement, training, and community outreach.

The recognition comes as departments across the country mark Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month by celebrating the achievements and service of officers from diverse backgrounds.

From Seasonal Officer to Department Leader

Stilton’s path through the department reflects nearly a decade of service and professional growth.

She was first hired by the Seaside Park Police Department as a Class One Special Law Enforcement Officer (SLEO I) in 2017. The following year, she attended the Ocean County Police Academy as a Class Two Special Law Enforcement Officer (SLEO II), continuing her progression within the department.

In 2021, Stilton reached a milestone when she became Seaside Park’s first full-time female police officer.

The achievement marked a significant moment for the borough’s police department while also highlighting the increasing role women play in modern law enforcement agencies.

Multiple Roles Beyond Patrol Duties

Today, Stilton serves in several specialized positions that extend beyond traditional patrol responsibilities.

The department said she currently works as the Class One Coordinator and serves as the agency’s Special Needs and Bias Liaison. She also provides training as a CPR instructor and Defensive Tactics Instructor.

Those assignments place her at the center of both officer development and community engagement efforts.

Her responsibilities also reach beyond Seaside Park. Stilton serves as an instructor at the Ocean County Police Academy, where she teaches Arrest, Search and Seizure and Community Policing.

Key Points

• Patrol Officer Stilton is a first-generation Filipino American recognized during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
• She became Seaside Park’s first full-time female police officer in 2021.
• Stilton also serves as an instructor at the Ocean County Police Academy.

Recognition Highlights Representation and Service

The department’s recognition focused not only on Stilton’s professional accomplishments but also on her heritage and the example she provides for future generations.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is observed each May to recognize the contributions of people with roots across Asia and the Pacific Islands. Law enforcement agencies, schools, businesses and community organizations often use the month to spotlight individuals whose service has made an impact locally.

For Seaside Park, that spotlight fell on an officer whose career has expanded from seasonal law enforcement assignments to leadership and instructional roles.

The recognition also underscores the growing diversity of police departments and the importance of representation within public service professions.

Training the Next Generation of Officers

One of the most notable aspects of Stilton’s career is her role in preparing future officers.

By teaching at the Ocean County Police Academy, she helps train recruits in constitutional policing principles, search and seizure procedures, and community-focused policing strategies.

Those subjects form a core part of modern law enforcement education and influence how officers interact with residents throughout their careers.

The department noted that her work spans both operational duties and instructional responsibilities, allowing her to contribute to policing efforts at multiple levels.

As Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to a close, the Seaside Park Police Department’s recognition highlights both Stilton’s accomplishments and her continuing role within the agency. She remains on active duty while serving in her current training, liaison, and community outreach assignments.

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Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

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