Detective Bureau
The detective bureau handles investigation related to all crimes committed within Hopewell Township and Hopewell Borough, as well as for the prevention and detection of crime. Detectives also conduct background investigations for licensing, permits, firearms and employment screening related to public safety.
Three full-time detectives staff the bureau; they are supervised by a lieutenant.
Personnel currently assigned to the Detective Bureau and their extensions are listed below:
BUREAU COMMANDER:
Lt. Thomas Puskas, extension 516
Lt. Thomas I. Puskas commands the unit. He assigns cases, reviews reports and oversees all investigations conducted by the detective bureau. Lt. Puskas has the additional responsibilities of conducting internal investigations, conducting random drug testing of officers, recruiting, acting as the liaison between the police department and the Domestic Violence Victim Response Team (DVVRT) and supervising the department’s records section and the discovery section.
DETECTIVES:
Detective Dan McKeown, extension 536
Detective Kevin Zorn, extension 532
Detective’s responsibilities include follow-up investigations; surveillance, interrogation; evidence collection/crime scene processing, evidence management, residential identification cards and firearms purchaser ID card investigations. Detectives also assist the traffic unit on investigations involving very serious or fatal motor vehicle accidents.
JUVENILE DETECTIVE:
Detective Michael Sherman, extension 523
The juvenile detective investigates and processes all juvenile matters handled by the police department. Typically, these cases initially begin with uniform officers from the patrol division; they are turned over the juvenile detective for follow-up. The juvenile detective works closely with the NJ Department of Children and Families as well as the Mercer County Prosecutors Office on investigations involving mistreatment and neglect of children. The juvenile detective also serves as liaison officer in the Timberlane Middle School and the Hopewell Valley Central High School.
