Chief: Gang Retaliation Claims Unsubstantiated

A widely circulated New York Post article says gang members are encouraged to shoot police in retaliation to the massive investigation and manhunt following the murder of a Lakewood police officer.

However, there’s no documentation that it’s true, said Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy.

“At this time they’ve failed to substantiate that story from legitimate, law enforcement sources,” Mastronardy said. “There’s no documentation for this.”

The suspect in the murder of a Lakewood police officer was captured Sunday during an early morning “high-risk entry” in a Camden apartment, ending a two-day manhunt for the killer, authorities said.

The suspect, Jahmell Crockam, 19, is accused of killing Chris Matlosz, a 27-year-old Lakewood police officer from Manchester who was a Howell High School alumnus, authorities said.

Matlosz was on a routine patrol and in his police vehicle when the suspect then took a step back, pulled a gun and shot Matlosz three times at close range in the head, Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said.

Ford said gang involvement in the Friday afternoon shooting was still under investigation.

Mastronardy said he was aware of the Post article and that Toms River and other law enforcement agencies have also been notified.

“It’s undocumented information,” he said, but “obviously we’ve made all the officers aware of it.”

Toms River has paired its officers with Brick Township police to patrol Lakewood since the shooting, Mastronardy said.

“We’re helping to cover Lakewood,” he said, “We’ll have one of our guys and one from Brick riding in cars together, for example.”

Brick and Toms River use identical computer systems for law enforcement, he said, which help facilitate the two towns' coverage of Lakewood.

Mastronardy praised the efforts of local police during the two days after the shooting.

“We’re very proud of all the officers,” he said. “We’re busy and we’re working hard, together, during this. It’s just amazing, the cooperation.”

Flags were flying at half staff in honor of Matlosz in Toms River, and the announcement board outside police headquarters on Oak and North Bay avenues said “Rest in Peace.”