By Allison Perrine | aperrine@tworivertimes.com
HOLMDEL – In 1966, residents of Holmdel would have seen a black 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 police car patrolling the streets.
They can still see that same nostalgic image today, thanks to the Stanziale family of Holmdel.
Police Chief John Mioduszewski and resident Evey Stanziale were trading memories about “back in the day” shortly before the township police department’s 50-year celebration. According to Stanziale, an opportunity presented itself to purchase a vehicle resembling the department’s first car from an Indiana man, so he restored it as such and donated it to the township. It is often showcased on the front lawn of town hall, at Holmdel and Crawfords Corner roads.
Photo courtesy E. Stanziale
“People love it,” he said. The vintage car has made appearances at township and recreation events, at schools and in parades. It was featured at the Holmdel Harvest Fest at Bayonet Farm last weekend, where Stanziale said it attracted second glances.
The black, shiny 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 has white lettering on its side that reads “Holmdel Twp. Police.” It has a red siren on the roof that is triggered by a switch inside the vehicle, which Stanziale said he had fun using when he was asked to drive it in a youth baseball parade.
Recently the vehicle was parked outside the Holmdel Police Station but was removed this week for routine maintenance. Stanziale said he believes it will be returned after maintenance is complete.
The Holmdel Police Department was established in 1966, but the exact date of the formal founding is unclear. It started under the leadership of Chief Joseph Phillips, who served in Holmdel from 1947 to 1971. He was also the township’s school bus driver and mailman, according to history published on the Holmdel Police Department webpage.
