Rockaway Township Police and Rockaway Borough Police: Contacts and Services

Rockaway Township and Rockaway Borough are separate towns, and each has its own police department. Which one you call depends on where you are: the Township Police serve the larger Township, which includes White Meadow Lake, Mount Hope, Lake Telemark and Hibernia, while the Borough Police serve the smaller downtown Borough. If you are not sure which town an address is in, our explainer on how Rockaway Borough and Rockaway Township differ can help. This guide covers contacts and services only.

In any emergency, call 911. Use the non-emergency numbers below for reports, records, permits and questions.

Rockaway Township Police and Rockaway Borough Police at a glance

Rockaway Township Police Department

The Rockaway Township Police Department has served the Township since 1946. Its website says the department has 53 sworn officers and 12 civilian staff, and it has been accredited through the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police since 2010. Headquarters is on the lower level of the Municipal Complex at 65 Mount Hope Road. The department’s website lists Chief Robert Scherr, who can be reached at 973-625-4000, ext. 1000, or Chief@rktpd.org.

Township contacts

• Non-emergency: 973-625-4000. An automated attendant routes calls, and pressing 0 at any time reaches the communications officers on the desk 24 hours a day.
• Office of Emergency Management hotline: 973-400-6611.
• Community services line: 973-625-4000, option 5.
• Fax: 973-586-0047 (main) and 973-983-2912 (administrative).

Township police reports and records

The Records Division is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and reports can be picked up during those hours. The department recommends calling first to check whether your report is ready for release. Crash reports are also available online through BuyCrash, which the department links from its website.

Township permits and applications

• Firearms ID cards and handgun purchase permits: processed by the Detective Bureau. Applications are filed online through the New Jersey State Police Firearms Application and Registration System (FARS). The state says you must apply to the department that covers your home and use that department’s ORI number, so confirm it with the Township Police first.
• Temporary handicap placards: the department processes applications. Placards are good for six months and can be renewed for another six. Forms are at headquarters and on the police forms page.
• Good conduct letters: available by request using the department’s Good Conduct Form.
• Traffic concerns: the Traffic Bureau takes requests through a Traffic Enforcement Request Form.

Township vacant house checks

If your home will be empty, the Township Police list vacant house checks among their community services. Fill out the Vacant Structure Form on the police services page or call 973-625-4000, option 5.

Township community programs

• Community services: station tours, community policing events, National Night Out, child fingerprinting, a ride-along program and student internships.
• National Night Out: read about the 2026 Township National Night Out and movie night at Peterson Field.
• Junior Police Academy: a summer program for local youth. See our story on the 2026 Junior Police Academy.
• Blue Envelope Program: helps drivers with autism spectrum disorder and officers communicate during a traffic stop. Envelopes are available at headquarters.
• Too Good for Drugs and Too Good for Violence: school lessons taught by officers in partnership with the Mendez Foundation.
• Crisis Response Team: the department recruits volunteers for its domestic violence response team.
• Alerts: sign up for Township emergency notifications and Nixle advisories.

The department’s website currently lists its prescription drug drop box as closed, so call before bringing medications.

Rockaway Borough Police Department

The Rockaway Borough Police Department serves Rockaway Borough from its station at 33 Maple Avenue. The department’s website lists Conrad Pepperman as chief. Borough Hall, a separate building at 1 East Main Street, can be reached at 973-627-2000.

Borough contacts

• Non-emergency: 973-627-1314.
• Traffic and speeding complaints: 973-627-1851.
• Fax: 973-627-5036.
• Online non-emergency reports: frontlinepss.com/RockawayBorough.
• Tips: the department directs tips to copcall.org, 973-COP-CALL (267-2255) or 1-800-SHERIFF (743-7433).

Borough police reports and records

The station is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for accident and other reports. For other Borough public records, the Borough Clerk’s office posts an OPRA request form on the Borough forms page. The clerk’s office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 973-627-2000, ext. 226.

Borough permits and other services

• Firearms ID cards and purchase permits: call 973-627-1314 and ask for the Firearms Unit. Statewide, applications are now filed through the New Jersey State Police FARS portal using your local department’s ORI number, so ask the Firearms Unit for current steps and fees.
• Towed vehicles: to get a vehicle release form, bring your current registration, a valid driver’s license and the vehicle’s current insurance card to the station.
• Speed trailer: if speeding is a recurring problem on your street, call 973-627-1851 and the department may set up its radar speed trailer.
• Child seat checks: the Borough no longer does them and refers residents to the New Jersey State Police child seat program.

Borough vacant home checks

Borough residents who will be away can file a Request for Vacant Home Check, which is posted with the police forms on the Borough forms page. Call 973-627-1314 with questions.

Borough community programs

• Bike patrol: officers trained by the International Police Mountain Bike Association patrol parks, the lake, schools and downtown.
• L.E.A.D.: a drug education program the department has offered in schools since 1990.
• School resource officer: an officer is assigned to Morris Hills High School, reachable through the school at 973-664-2479 or the department at 973-627-1851.
• National Night Out: see our story on Rockaway Borough National Night Out 2026.

Solicitor permits

Neither police department’s website lists a solicitor or peddler permit. If someone is selling door to door and you have questions, call Rockaway Township’s municipal offices at 973-627-7200 or the Borough Clerk at 973-627-2000. If someone makes you feel unsafe, call the non-emergency line, or 911 in an emergency.

County services that work with Rockaway police

• ARRIVE Together: both towns are part of the Morris County program that pairs officers with mental health professionals on some calls. Read how ARRIVE Together works in Rockaway.
• Morris County Sheriff’s Office: the county agency behind K-9 programs like the late K-9 Kai, and the source of scam alerts such as its jury duty scam warning.

More Rockaway emergency and town guides

During storms, see our guide to reporting a power outage in Rockaway NJ. For the Borough’s volunteer firefighters, see our Rockaway Borough Fire Department guide. Our Rockaway Township and Rockaway Borough local guides link to other town services.

Rockaway Township Police and Rockaway Borough Police FAQ

What is the Rockaway Township Police non-emergency number?

The Rockaway Township Police non-emergency number is 973-625-4000. Press 0 at any time to reach the communications desk, which is staffed 24 hours a day. In an emergency, call 911.

What is the Rockaway Borough Police non-emergency number?

The Rockaway Borough Police non-emergency number is 973-627-1314. In an emergency, call 911.

Where is the Rockaway Township Police Department?

Rockaway Township Police headquarters is on the lower level of the Municipal Complex at 65 Mount Hope Road, Rockaway, NJ 07866.

Where is the Rockaway Borough Police Department?

The Rockaway Borough Police station is at 33 Maple Avenue, Rockaway, NJ 07866.

How do I get a police report in Rockaway?

Township reports can be picked up from the Records Division, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; call 973-625-4000 first. Crash reports are also on BuyCrash. Borough reports are handled at the station, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; call 973-627-1314.

How do I apply for a firearms ID card in Rockaway?

Apply online through the New Jersey State Police FARS portal, choosing the department that covers your home: Rockaway Township Police for Township residents or Rockaway Borough Police for Borough residents. Confirm the correct ORI number with your department first.

Are Rockaway Township Police and Rockaway Borough Police the same?

No. Rockaway Township and Rockaway Borough are separate towns with separate police departments, phone numbers and headquarters.

Top photo: East Main Street in downtown Rockaway Borough. Photo: Mr. Matté / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.