Police Chief On Administrative Leave In Brick; Acting Chief Named

BRICK, NJ — Brick Township Police Chief David Forrester has been placed on administrative leave and is resigning from the police department as of Dec. 31.

Henry Drew, who had been the deputy chief, was named acting police chief on April 17, when Forrester's administrative leave began.

A copy of a separation agreement between Forrester and Brick Township that Forrester signed April 16 does not explain the reasons for his departure.

Brick Township Mayor Lisa Crate declined to comment, citing personnel matters.

The nine-page separation agreement includes extensive language releasing the township from potential lawsuits about "events leading up to" when he signed the settlement on April 16, and it includes a copy of his resignation letter, "which is being held in escrow."

Under the settlement, Forrester is on leave with pay through Dec. 31, and the township is paying his attorney's fees in connection with the settlement, up to $7,500.

Health care coverage for Forrester and his dependents will continue through Dec. 31, and he will receive a lump-sum payment of $137,048.93 for accrued leave, comp time and sick time. His accrued sick leave is 282 hours, totaling $39,336.18; he is among those not capped at $15,000 because he was already employed by the township before state law capped sick leave payouts. His vacation time of 400 hours totals $55,796 and his comp time is 300.50 hours worth $41,916.75, according to the settlement.

"Forrester acknowledges that the Township's agreement to pay him as set forth ... is over and above what the Township is legally required to do and is specifically provided to him in exchange for the general release setforth in paragraph 1 above," the agreement says.

Forrester became Brick Township's fourth police chief when James Riccio retired in February 2023. He was hired by the department in February 1996 and graduated from the New Jersey State Police Municipal Academy in Class 193. He had served in the operations division, investigation division, internal affairs, on the Professional Standards Units and on the Special Emergency Response Team, and as a school resource officer.

He was promoted to sergeant in July 2004 and to lieutenant in December 2012, and to captain in December 2017.

Forrester has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Stockton University and master’s degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He also served in the New Jersey Air National Guard, retiring as a major after serving 24 years.

Drew was hired by the department in January 1995. He is a 1993 graduate of Kean College of New Jersey and the Ocean County Police Academy Class 64.

In the department, he has been assigned to the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force, the Brick Township Police Drug Enforcement Unit, the Operations Division, the Community Policing Division (where he served as EMS supervisor and public information officer), the Investigation Division and the Administration Services Division, where he was in charge of the Internal Affairs Division. He also spent time supervising in the patrol division as a squad sergeant and patrol commander

He was promoted to sergeant in October 2007; to lieutenant in December 2017, and captain in February 2023, before being named deputy chief in April 2025.