About Washington Township

Washington Township is located in the Skylands region of New Jersey, Morris County, in an area of forested rolling hills and farmland. Washington Township has the distinction of being both the largest municipality, covering almost forty-five square miles of the county and the westernmost municipality in Morris County. The township borders Somerset, Warren, and Hunterdon Counties and is approximately fifteen miles from the Pennsylvania and the Delaware River.

The Long Valley section of Washington Township was called German Valley when it was first settled in the 1700’s by people from Saxony, an area located on the eastern border of Germany, near Poland. Since the first settlers arrived, Washington Township has grown to almost eighteen thousand residents. Almost all the residents of the township reside in single family houses and the majority work outside the township.

As one of the six original towns that helped create Morris County in the 1790’s, Washington Township today leads the county in the greatest acreage of preserved farmland. The township is actively working to preserve its farming heritage and has preserved over 2,800 acres of farmland from thirty-five farms.

The Police Department, consisting of two officers, Chief Charles Wall and Officer George W. Kluetz, who later became Chief, was formed in 1964 and grew with the town. Today, Chief Michael Bailey leads the department, composed of thirty-three full time police officers, four support personnel and a communications center staffed by over twenty full and part time Communication's Officers. The Communication Center provides emergency dispatching services for Washington Township, Chester Borough, and Chester Township.

The Police department proudly serves the community with its Patrol, Investigative, Community Policing and Traffic Divisions. Service to the community is the most important aspect of department activity. The department engages in proactive crime prevention programs, which involve both the Senior and Junior residents of the town, and all those in between. The programs range from the Senior Assistance Program to ID programs for preschoolers.

Please use this site to learn about what the Washington Township Police Department has to offer, and please use the links to communicate your ideas, comments, complaints and compliments.