The Jackson Township Police Department is expanding its ranks with three new officers who graduated this week from the Ocean County Police Academy.
Matthew Herrick, Joshua Bollard, and Lance Hobbs were among the recruits who completed the academy’s 123rd class on Tuesday and are now set to begin their careers with the department.
All three officers have deep ties to Jackson, bringing a mix of athletic, military, and community service backgrounds to the force.
Herrick, who grew up in Jackson, attended Elms Elementary School and Goetz Middle School before graduating from Albany Academy in 2020. While there, he captained the varsity ice hockey team.
After high school, Herrick spent two seasons playing junior ice hockey in Massachusetts and Maine before returning to New Jersey to play for the New Jersey 87’s, where he served as team captain during the club’s 2021–2022 league championship run.
Herrick later attended Saint Anselm College, playing NCAA Division II ice hockey and helping the team capture a Northeast-10 championship. He later transferred to the University of Delaware, where he is completing a degree in history and wildlife ecology with a minor in insect ecology.
Outside the classroom, Herrick has spent more than five years as a lifeguard at Manasquan Beach, where he was credited with multiple water rescues and preventative safety actions.
He has also logged hundreds of hours of volunteer work, including helping establish a high school program that grew fruits and vegetables for homeless shelters and food banks. Herrick has volunteered in veterans and children’s hospitals and participated in programs like the Best Day Foundation, which organizes surfing and beach days for children with special needs.
Bollard, another Jackson native, graduated from Jackson Liberty High School in 2018.
During high school he was a four-year varsity wrestler and served as a two-year team captain, while also competing on the varsity golf team.
He later attended East Carolina University, graduating in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in sport studies and a minor in communications.
After returning to Jackson, Bollard worked at his alma mater as a substitute teacher and assistant wrestling coach, mentoring student-athletes while helping guide the school’s wrestling program.
Bollard is entering law enforcement following the path of his father, Michael Bollard, who also serves with the Jackson Police Department.
Hobbs, a graduate of Jackson Memorial High School, brings military experience to the department.
After graduating in 2020, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving four years on active duty as an infantry rifleman specializing in weapon systems and close-quarters combat.
During his service, Hobbs participated in Operation Allies Welcome, which supported the resettlement of Afghan refugees following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.
He also deployed to Okinawa, Japan and trained alongside South Korean forces near the border with South Korea, where his unit helped train more than 250 South Korean Marines in infantry tactics.
Hobbs received several military honors during his service, including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
With their academy training complete, the three officers will now begin their law enforcement careers in Jackson Township.
