Lifelong Lacey Residents Join Police Department

LACEY, NJ — Lacey Township is keeping its commitment to supporting the local police force as three new officers recently joined and two existing officers were promoted - and they're all hometown heroes.

All five were sworn in at the latest township committee meeting, where the room was packed with supporters of the blue.

"It truly has been a pleasure working with the township administrator, the township committee," Chief Christopher Kenny said at the meeting. "They've been very supportive of the police department and I can't thank them enough."

New to the police department are Cassidy Meyh, Jack McKee and Justin Brown.

Meyh, 24, was born and raised in Lacey and is a graduate of Lacey Township High School. She was working as a dispatcher for Lacey police before joining as an officer. She also followed in the footsteps of her father, George Meyh, who is a corrections officer.

McKee, 22, is the department's seventh legacy, meaning his father also worked for Lacey police. However, he's special in the fact that he's the second person who gets to work with his father. John McKee is a current lieutenant in the department. But Capt. Paul Sullivan, the department's first to work alongside his dad, said that the young man "earned his way here."

"He wanted to forge his own path," Sullivan said.

Brown, 31, is a 2011 graduate of Lacey Township High School. He's returning to his hometown after working for the Camden County Police Department for five years, where he was a patrol officer and field training officer.

Additionally, Anthony Sarno was promoted to sergeant, and Darrell Nick was promoted to lieutenant.

Sarno, also a lifelong Lacey resident, joined the department in 2013. He has served on the Ocean County SWAT Team for 10 years. In his time on the force, he has undertaken many responsibilities and received accolades including a medal of honor.

Nick has been a member of the department since 2003. He was promoted to sergeant in 2020 and has trained many Lacey officers. He is also alumni of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Command and Leadership Academy.

"We've really tried to put a renewed focus on the police department. Over the last couple years, we've tried to increase the resources as best we can," Deputy Mayor Steven Kennis said. "And as you can see, it's bearing fruit."