HALEDON — Jerry Gamble, former chief of the Haledon Police Department, died on June 27 at the age of 81. Local police announced his death two days later.

Gamble was born in Haledon and lived in the Hamburg section of Hardyston Township. He was a Navy veteran. He became police chief in March 1987. Republicans controlled the Haledon Borough Council at that time. For the five years prior to March 1987, the department was run by a civilian director, and Democrats held the majority on the Borough Council. The position of civilian director was abolished before Gamble's appointment as chief.

During his tenure, Gamble formed a task force to collect unpaid fines from residents. This task force collected nearly $7,300 in unpaid fines from habitual offenders within four months. In March 1990, three years after Gamble became chief, the department implemented the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, becoming one of the first police agencies in Passaic County to do so. Under his leadership, the department also established a volunteer corps of auxiliary officers. In March 1996, Gamble recruited 16 volunteers for the auxiliary police. Gamble stated, "I have a lot of faith in them, and it's going to be great for us."

Gamble retired as police chief in December 2002, having served 32 years with the department. Following his retirement, he worked as a county undersheriff for five years. Mourning bunting was hung at the entrance to the Haledon municipal building after his death.

The Haledon Police Department posted a tribute to Gamble on Facebook, describing him as a "mentor, teacher and trusted leader who helped to shape careers and influence what it means to wear the badge." The department added, "We salute Chief Gamble for his decades of dedicated public service, his commitment to the law enforcement profession and the lasting example that he set for those who followed in his footsteps." Haledon Mayor Michael Johnson described Gamble's death as a "profound loss" for everyone who knew him.

Gamble is survived by his wife, Geraldine, with whom he was married for 54 years. He is also survived by his daughter, Lindsey, and her husband, Michael Churchill, of Sussex, and four grandchildren. The Gamble family has requested that donations be sent to the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association Survivor & Welfare Fund in lieu of flowers. This fund, based in Woodbridge Township, provides survivor assistance to families of officers who die in the line of duty and offers rewards through its NJ Cop Shot program for information leading to convictions in shootings where police are killed or seriously hurt.