The Manchester Township Police Department is set to receive an infusion of $1.1 million to bolster its staffing and replace its aging police vehicles.

The $1,148,000 in federal funding was part of federal spending bills passed recently by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden to keep the federal government operating, Rep. Chris Smith announced.

"This federal support will enable the Manchester Police Department to continue delivering critical emergency and law enforcement services to a geographically large municipality," Smith said in announcing the congressional earmark.

Manchester Mayor Robert Arace, in the news release from Smith's office, said Manchester is grateful for the funding Smith garnered for the township.

Smith said Arace and Manchester provided substantive data that was critical to getting the funding.

Manchester encompasses 85 square miles, "with areas that are heavily wooded and prone to inclement weather due to proximity to the Atlantic Ocean," Smith said. "As a result, patrol vehicles suffer significant wear and tear, compromising the department’s ability to respond to emergencies across town and requiring vehicles to be sent for maintenance and unavailable for emergency response."

Manchester officials said a statement from Smith's office referencing a reduction in police staffing and a potential budget shortfall was not accurate.

"In 2023 we were facing budget shortfalls but never considered police layoffs," a message relayed Thursday evening by Kaylan Ricotta, Arace's aide, said. "This funding is intended for police fleet upgrades and to help stabilize the emergency services budget to keep Manchester affordable while being able to deliver critical services. We are very thankful to Chris Smith’s office for their support and assistance."

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