Leaders of lakewood pseudo-police force voice opposition of new public safety position in jackson

JACKSON, NJ – The leaders of the Lakewood Civilian Safety Watch are petitioning lawmakers, police officers, and the public to reject a Jackson Township council plan to create a civilian Director of Law and Public Safety.

Yankel Wenger, who publishes the Lakewood Shopper, a Lakewood-based newspaper, and is the head of the Lakewood Civilian Safety Watch, has been sending residents of Jackson What’s App messages.

Wenger, an ally of Chief of Police Matt Kunz, and opponent of Jackson Mayor Michael Reina has been upset with Reina for years. When LCSW began patrolling Jackson streets years ago, Mayor Reina penned a letter forbidding an outside para-police agency from driving Jackson streets offering police-style services when the township had a fully capable and functioning police department.

Chief Kunz opposed Reina’s opposition to LCSW operating in the community.

Last year, Wenger, a Lakewood resident, was upset with Reina after the mayor chose only Jackson residents to serve as chaplains within the Jackson Police Department. Wenger serves as an honorary chaplain in several agencies.

“The truth is that all serious Police Departments in the state and in the country prefer the position of Police Chief because it is held by a sworn law enforcement officer who has full statutory authority and is trained and certified to hold this position, as opposed to a civilian director who is subject to the whims and influences of the political governing body,” Wenger said. “The grass is not greener on the other side. Engaging in political maneuvering over petty squabbles will not be of any benefit to the Jackson community and may be very detrimental to the safety and security of all Jackson residents.”

If a director of public safety is installed in Jackson, Wenger’s future hopes of LCSW operating in Jackson and a future appointment as a township chaplain are in jeopardy.

Shore News Network Latest posts

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.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.