Linwood Police Department

The City of Linwood Police Department serves a community of approximately 7,000 residents with a firm commitment to professionalism, transparency, and public safety. Operating from its headquarters at 400 W. Poplar Avenue, the department consists of 22 full-time sworn officers, supported by two civilian staff members. Its organizational structure includes a Chief of Police, two Lieutenants, and five Sergeants, each responsible for key aspects of day-to-day operations, strategic planning, and community outreach.

The Linwood Police Department is guided in its operation by laws, ordinances, written directives, rules, regulations, and a code of ethics. In addition to legal and administrative requirements, Police Departments are significantly influenced by their principles and values. To assist in the accomplishment of our stated mission, the Linwood Police Department is committed to the following principles which will be considered a means of guiding our work and decision making process:

1. Openness and Accessibility: The Linwood Police Department shall endeavor to conduct our affairs publicly and be accessible to the public.
2. Fairness: Members and employees shall strive to be fair and impartial in all of our actions.
3. Responsiveness: Members and employees shall be responsive to the needs of the community and work in concert to resolve issues of mutual concern.
4. Sensitivity: Members and employees shall be sensitive to the needs and concerns of all persons encountered as a result of official duties.
5. Accountability: Members and employees are responsible for their conduct and performance to themselves, the agency and the community.
6. Organizational Efficiency: Members and employees shall remain committed to providing timely law enforcement services as efficiently as possible.
7. Community Orientation: Members and employees shall strive to always do what is in the best interest of the community and are always subject to prevailing law and established written directives.
8. Compassion: Members and employees shall show empathy and caring for the victims, complainants, and all other persons encountered as a result of their official duty.
9. Problem Solving: In furtherance of the established concept of community policing, members are considered to be most effective when they help identify and solve community problems.
10. Integrity: It is held that honesty is the basis for personal and public trust;accordingly, members shall place emphasis on personal and agency integrity.
11. Fiscal Responsibility: Members and employees shall demonstrate a concern for conserving the tax dollars that fund our operation. Equipment and facilities shall be protected and maintained to the best of each member’s and employees’ ability.
12. Democratic Principles: Members will protect the Constitutional Rights and personal freedoms of all residents and persons coming within the jurisdiction of the City of Linwood.
13. Teamwork: Members and employees shall endeavor to work as part of a team and recognize the importance of each individual and team member and will strive to apply these values to all interactions with the general public and co-workers.
14. Value Statement: We respect life. We hold the preservation of life as our sacred duty. Our value of human life sets our priorities.
15. We Honor Our Police Powers: We understand that our law enforcement powers are derived from the people we serve. We do not tolerate the abuse of our authority.
16. We Enforce the Laws: We recognize that our basic responsibility is to enforce the law of the land for the general good, while respecting the rights and dignity of each individual regardless of race, creed, color and sex. Our role is to resolve problems through the law, not to judge and punish. We will use only that amount of force necessary.
17. We Seek Community Partnership: We view the people of our community as partners who deserve our concern, care and attention. We are committed to reducing the fear of crime in our community and we endeavor to do this by creating partnerships throughout the city.
18. We Are Committed to Excellence: We will encourage and support our members in their efforts to achieve the highest professional and ethical standards and quality service to the public.
19. We Demonstrate Integrity: We value organizational and personal integrity, which is essential to the success of our agency. Anything less is unacceptable.
20. We Value Courage: We realize that both physical and moral courage are essential if we are to live the values we believe in.
21. We Strive to Improve: We can never be satisfied with the status quo. We must aim for continuous improvement in serving the public in an ever-changing society.

Mission Statement:

The Linwood Police Department is committed to providing the highest quality of Professional Police services by empowering our employees and the community, to work in partnership with the common goal of improving the quality of life within the City of Linwood. We will enforce the laws, preserve the peace, protect life and property, reduce fear and provide for a safe environment for all members of the community, while at the same time maintaining the respect for individual rights and human dignity as provided for within the framework of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey.

About Us:

Originally known as Leedsville, the community was renamed Linwood in 1880 when the U.S. Postal Service requested a unique name to avoid confusion with another existing town. It was incorporated as a borough on February 20, 1889, carved from Egg Harbor Township, and later reincorporated as a city on April 27, 1931

Linwood grew along Shore Road and Maple Avenue, with its early settlers including farmers, sea captains, and customs officials who built distinctive homes in Federal, Gothic Revival, and Queen Anne styles. The Linwood Historic District, encompassing roughly 111 acres and containing around 165 historic buildings, reflects this development from between 1820–1935. It showcases architectural diversity and the impact of trolley, railroad, and automobile transportation on city growth.

Leedsville Schoolhouse (Linwood Borough School No. 1) was built in 1873 as a one-room schoolhouse. It served as a school until 1908 and later as a Municipal Hall until 1965. Today it houses the Linwood Historical Society Museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

All Wars Memorial Park, Linwood Arboretum, the Bike Path, and Hartshorne Park provide scenic and recreational spaces treasured by residents.

The historic district includes notable sites like Villa Pietà Garden (Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts) and the Clara-Glen Pet Cemetery.

The City of Linwood has six houses of worship, serving various denominations.