Beach Haven police sergeant left gun unsecured and accessible to kids in Stafford: cops

Kathleen Hopkins, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read

STAFFORD - A Beach Haven police officer has been suspended and charged with child endangerment for allegedly leaving a handgun unsecured and accessible to juveniles, Police Chief Thomas Dellane and Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Andrew Wahlberg, 50, a sergeant on the Beach Haven force who resides in the Manahawkin section here, was charged Wednesday as a result of an incident that occurred in the Manahawkin section on May 18, a joint news release from Dellane and Billhimer said.

Billhimer and Dellane’s news release said their joint investigation determined that Wahlberg left a Beretta 9mm handgun unsecured and accessible to juveniles. Wahlberg was served a summons and will face a first appearance in Superior Court, the release said.

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The news release did not elaborate on the May 18 incident, but the Stafford Police Department on May 19 posted information on its Facebook page about the arrest the previous day of a15-year-old boy who was found in possession of a loaded, black Beretta 9mm handgun and a folding knife.

Billhimer said he could not comment on the teenager’s arrest because he is a minor.

Stafford police, in its Facebook post last week, said they were notified about 7:14 p.m. on May 18 of a male subject, wearing black clothing and white shoes, who was displaying a gun at Ocean Acres Park. Officers responded and quickly located the individual, learning he was in possession of the loaded gun and a knife, the Facebook post said.

The teen was arrested and charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon. He was held at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center. Police said they would not release any further information about the incident.

Beach Haven Police Chief James Markoski said Wahlberg has been suspended without pay. The chief said he could not comment further.

Pension records indicate Wahlberg, a 15-year veteran of the force, earned $134,640 last year.

Kathleen Hopkins, a reporter in New Jersey since 1985, covers crime, court cases, legal issues and just about every major murder trial to hit Monmouth and Ocean counties. Contact her at khopkins@app.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ police misconduct: LBI cop 's unsecured gun accessible to kids