The police department has fewer sworn full-time officers as of June 1 than it had in 2004, when Toms River had 10 percent ...

The tradition began with a retired Chicago police officer donating a patch, and it grew organically over the years. It started with just one patch from a retired Chicago police officer’s uniform.

The patches, both old and new, are now displayed in The Islander Gift Gallery & Boutique, another store owned by the same person, serving as a symbol of recovery and connection for the community. The ...