Bay Head Police Chief Accused of Theft

Bay Head Police Chief Charles Grace is accused of stealing more than $500 from a local Policemen's Benevolent Association fund and has been removed from his position, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Grace, 50, a Point Pleasant Borough resident, is accused of stealing "in excess of $500" from the Bay Head-Mantoloking Policemen's Benevolent Association, on April 10, 2007, in a complaint signed by Ray Gardner, a detective with the county prosecutor's office, said Michael Mohel, Deputy Chief of the prosecutor's office on Monday night.

County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford on Saturday removed Grace as chief and appointed Mohel as acting chief until the Bay Head Borough Council appoints a permanent replacement. The council's next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 7.

Mohel said, "I don't know how much money has been taken because we're still investigating. But I want the public to know that we do not believe any other officers in the Bay Head department are involved in this. The public should have the utmost confidence in the police department."

Grace has been chief since 2005, Mohel said. He was president of the Ocean County Chiefs of Police Association in 2010.

Mohel said that while he will serve as chief, the daily operations of the department will be overseen by Lt. Robert Hoffman, Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Barger and Sgt. William Hoffman.