Chester Checkpoint Yields 11 Arrests

“We ended up getting one actual drunk driver, one underage possession of alcohol and nine drug arrests,” said Jara.

Jara noted in his report that none of those who were arrested were residents of Chester Borough and that the drug arrests were not limited to marijuana.

“[The drug arrests] ranged from marijuana to drug paraphernalia to crystal meth,” Jara said. 

As far as manpower utilized, the eight man Borough squad was beefed up to 11 total officers – not including a canine – and included four officers from Mendham Township, two from Mendham Borough and a Sheriff's Department Officer.

The two officers from Mendham Township were drug recognition experts, specially trained to find the drugged driver. The crew used a light tower as well as two sign boards in the process, according to Jara.

Jara said that there was an $1,800 grant that helped fund the check point and the borough received another $3,000 to cover overtime for the officers.

According to Jara the process employed was to officers began by stop every fourth car, unless they saw a direct violation, and when the traffic began to slow around 11:30 p.m. they increased frequency to every other car.

Jara added that the process could generate money for Chester Borough, but both Jara and Mayor Bob Davis said final numbers wouldn't be available until all of the cases had been decided in court. 

Jara, who was named Officer-in-Charge of the Chester Borough Police Department while they search for a new police chief, said that he’s hoping the borough can conduct another checkpoint in September.