Lavallette, NJ: Where Police Encryption Meets Governance Dysfunction
In this small Jersey Shore borough of roughly 2,000 year-round residents, a troubling pattern has emerged: police radio encryption since 2019, multiple arrests of residents for filming public meetings, a police department taken over by the county prosecutor's office, and governance dominated by intertwined family relationships. Lavallette demonstrates how encryption becomes just one tool in a broader culture of opacity.
Key Facts at a Glance
The LaCicero Dynasty
Understanding Lavallette requires understanding its political structure. The borough is led by Mayor Walter LaCicero, a former Lavallette police officer. His sons occupy key positions in the police department:
Walter LaCicero
Mayor Former Lavallette police officerChristian LaCicero
Police Chief Appointed November 2022Adam LaCicero
Police Sergeant Named in 2025 lawsuitThe Conflict of Interest
When the police chief and a sergeant are both sons of the mayor, who provides oversight? When arrests happen at council meetings presided over by the mayor, what recourse do citizens have? This concentration of power in one family creates inherent conflicts that encryption only exacerbates.
Timeline: A Pattern of Opacity
Police Radios Go Dark
Lavallette Police Department implements full encryption on all channels using a Turbo Capacity Plus system. The public loses all ability to monitor police communications.
Christopher Angulo Arrested at Council Meeting
Borough resident arrested for disturbing a public meeting while allegedly filming. Charged with disturbing a meeting, disorderly conduct, and aggravated assault on an officer.
Prosecutor Takes Over Internal Affairs
Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Professional Standards Unit assumes command of Lavallette Police internal affairs functions after audit reveals deficiencies.
Full Prosecutor Takeover
Ocean County Prosecutor assumes full command and control of the entire police department, citing serious deficiencies including failed background checks, officers who failed psych tests, and "meddling" by the governing body.
Jen Coombs Removed From Meeting
Videographer Jen Coombs forcibly removed from council meeting for filming without prior written permission under uncodified "guidelines."
Christian LaCicero Appointed Chief
Mayor's son appointed police chief despite concerns about nepotism. Councilman Robert Lamb (father of rival candidate) forced to abstain from vote.
Prosecutor Returns Control
After 10 months and correcting 25 deficiencies, Ocean County Prosecutor restores control to Lavallette. Eight deficiencies remain unresolved.
Two More Filming Arrests
Michael Vintzileos and Steven Wronko arrested for attempting to film a council meeting addressing ADA beach access. Charged with disrupting a meeting. Charges later dismissed.
Federal Lawsuit Filed
Vintzileos and Wronko file federal civil rights lawsuit against the borough, mayor, police chief, and multiple officers including Sgt. Adam LaCicero and Sgt. Justin Lamb.
The Justin Lamb Factor
Among those named in the 2025 federal lawsuit is Police Sergeant Justin D. Lamb, whose story exemplifies the troubling patterns in Lavallette policing.
2015: Confrontation with Officers
Close to midnight on August 23, 2015, Toms River police responded to a noise complaint at a party in Ortley Beach. According to police reports, Justin Lamb confronted officers at the scene, initially refused to back away, and cursed at them.
May 2018: Domestic Violence Arrest
Lamb was arrested by Toms River police after a woman reported he threw her to the ground and kicked her. According to police reports, the woman had come home to find Lamb in bed with another woman. The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office charged him with simple assault.
- A Superior Court judge granted the woman a temporary restraining order
- Lamb surrendered his service revolver and two personal firearms
- At the time, he was also serving as a Lakewood municipal prosecutor
- The prosecutor's office notified him he was prohibited from prosecuting cases pending the outcome
January 2025: Toms River Council President
Despite his history, Justin Lamb was sworn in as Toms River Council President in January 2025. He continues to serve as a Lavallette Police Sergeant while leading the council of Ocean County's largest municipality.
Connection to Filming Arrests
"Others named in the lawsuit include Lavallette police Sgts. Adam LaCicero and Justin D. Lamb."— Court documents, Vintzileos v. Lavallette (2025)
The Filming Arrest Pattern
Lavallette has developed a pattern of arresting or removing citizens who attempt to film public council meetings. Unlike most New Jersey municipalities that allow filming under the Open Public Meetings Act, Lavallette enforces uncodified "guidelines" that require prior written permission.
Christopher Angulo
Resident arrested for filming while narrating on Facebook Live. Charged with disturbing a meeting, disorderly conduct, and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
Jen Coombs
Independent videographer who publishes government meetings on YouTube. Forcibly removed by police for filming without prior permission.
Michael Vintzileos & Steven Wronko
Attended meeting on ADA beach access. Despite claiming they notified the clerk beforehand, both were arrested for "disrupting" the meeting. Charges later dismissed.
The Chilling Effect
When citizens face arrest for attempting to document their own government, transparency dies. These aren't isolated incidents—they represent a systematic approach to controlling information. Combined with encrypted police radios, Lavallette has created an environment where official actions occur beyond public scrutiny.
The Prosecutor's Damning Report
The 2023 Ocean County Prosecutor's report characterized the Lavallette Police Department as having been "mismanaged for years." The findings were remarkable for a department of only 13 officers in a small resort town.
Critical Deficiencies Found
Background Check Failures
Officers hired without thorough background checks. The borough was set to hire four officers without any background investigation.
Failed Psychological Tests
Two officers who failed psychiatric evaluations were working on the force.
No School Access Keys
Police lacked key access to the elementary school for emergency response, including active shooter situations.
Broken Radio System
Department radios were frequently down, forcing officers to communicate via personal cell phones.
Missing Equipment
Officers lacked Tasers, proper radar equipment, and some weren't wearing department-issued body armor.
Wrong Pepper Spray
Department used pepper spray that could ignite if officers from neighboring departments used Tasers.
No Detectives
The 13-member force had no detectives to conduct investigations and lacked any executive command staff.
"Meddling" by Officials
The prosecutor found a "meddlesome pattern of behavior by the governing body, current business administrator and current township attorney into the daily operations" of the police department.
From the Prosecutor's Report
"Law enforcement candidates and employees have been poorly screened, poorly trained, poorly managed and ill-equipped to perform necessary and legitimate law enforcement functions."— Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, March 2023
The 2025 Federal Lawsuit
In April 2025, Michael Vintzileos and Steven Wronko filed a federal civil rights lawsuit (Case No. 3:2025cv02200) in U.S. District Court in Trenton. The lawsuit names an extensive list of defendants, highlighting the intertwined nature of Lavallette governance:
Borough of Lavallette
Municipal EntityMayor Walter LaCicero
Mayor FatherChristian LaCicero
Police Chief Mayor's SonAdam LaCicero
Police Sergeant Mayor's SonJustin D. Lamb
Police Sergeant Also Toms River Council PresidentDonnelly Amico
Borough ClerkJohn O. Bennett
Borough Administrator10 Unnamed Employees
Various Municipal RolesClaims Alleged
- First Amendment violations — Suppression of protected speech and press activities
- False arrest — Arrest without probable cause
- Malicious prosecution — Criminal charges filed without basis (later dismissed)
- Conspiracy to violate civil rights — Coordinated action to deprive plaintiffs of constitutional rights
"What happened to these guys is outrageous. We firmly believe that they intended to arrest them right from the get-go. ... They were just doing what they have a right to do."
— Thomas Mallon, Attorney for the PlaintiffsLavallette's Uncodified Filming "Guidelines"
Unlike most municipalities, Lavallette's restrictions on filming public meetings are not formally codified in the borough's municipal code. This creates several problems:
No Public Notice
There's no mention of filming guidelines on the borough website or any pages related to the municipal clerk or council. Citizens only learn of restrictions when confronted by police.
Requires OPRA Request
The only known copy of the guidelines was obtained through an Open Public Records Act request filed by videographer Jen Coombs in 2020.
Discretionary Enforcement
Without codified rules, enforcement becomes arbitrary. Officials can selectively apply or ignore guidelines based on who is filming.
Legal Vulnerability
Uncodified guidelines may not withstand legal scrutiny. The Open Public Meetings Act generally protects the right to record public meetings.
The 2025 Tweak
In May 2025, after the federal lawsuit was filed, Lavallette quietly "tweaked" its municipal filming ordinance. Whether this addresses the constitutional concerns at the heart of the lawsuit remains to be seen.
The Encryption Connection
Lavallette's police radio encryption fits into a broader pattern of information control. Since 2019, the department has operated on a fully encrypted Turbo Capacity Plus system. Only fire and EMS communications remain accessible to the public.
What Encryption Enables
No Arrest Monitoring
The public cannot hear when residents are being arrested at council meetings or verify the circumstances.
No Response Verification
With radios down and officers using cell phones (per the prosecutor's findings), encrypted or not, coordination suffered.
No Accountability Data
Scanner listeners cannot document response times, officer conduct, or patterns in enforcement.
Information Asymmetry
Officials know everything; the public knows only what officials choose to share.
The Bigger Picture
In a town where the police chief is the mayor's son, where officers have been arrested for assault, where the department required state takeover, and where citizens face arrest for filming—encryption isn't about officer safety. It's about ensuring that whatever happens stays hidden from public view.
Regional Context: Ocean County's Encryption Wave
Lavallette isn't alone in Ocean County's move toward encrypted police communications. The region has seen a significant shift toward opacity:
Encrypted Departments
- Lavallette Police (2019)
- Toms River Police
- Brick Township Police
- Lakewood Police
- Jackson Police
- Manchester Police
- Point Pleasant Borough
- Point Pleasant Beach
- Stafford Police
- Long Beach Island
- Lacey Township Police (2021)
Still Accessible
- All Fire Departments
- All EMS/First Aid
- Ocean County Sheriff Dispatch
The trend in Ocean County mirrors broader movements across New Jersey, where police departments have increasingly embraced encryption with minimal public input or accountability mechanisms.
What Ocean County Residents Can Do
Attend Borough Council Meetings
Show up with cameras. The more witnesses, the harder it is to arrest someone for simply recording. Document any instructions given.
File OPRA Requests
Request copies of filming guidelines, arrest records from council meetings, and any correspondence about encryption decisions.
Contact State Officials
The prosecutor's takeover shows state officials will intervene. Contact the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and NJ Division of Local Government Services about ongoing concerns.
Support the Lawsuit
The Vintzileos/Wronko lawsuit could set important precedent. Follow the case and share information about it.
Document Everything
If you attend a Lavallette meeting, have multiple people ready to record. Stream live to prevent confiscation. Note officer names and badge numbers.
Advocate for Legislation
Push for state legislation requiring public input before encryption decisions and protecting the right to film public meetings.
The Bottom Line
Lavallette isn't just a case study in police encryption—it's a case study in what happens when transparency dies across every level of local government.
When a mayor's sons run the police department, when residents face arrest for recording public meetings, when a department is so dysfunctional it requires state takeover, and when all police communications are hidden from public view—this isn't about "officer safety." This is about power without accountability.
The 2025 federal lawsuit may finally force answers. But Lavallette's residents shouldn't have to wait for courts to establish basic democratic norms. The right to film public meetings, to monitor public servants, and to hold elected officials accountable shouldn't require federal litigation.
Encryption is the technological enforcement of a culture of secrecy. In Lavallette, that culture extends from the council chamber to the police radio—and residents are fighting back.
Sources
- Patch: "2 Men Arrested For Filming Lavallette Council Meeting Sue Borough"
- Jersey Shore Observer: "Open Government Failure in Lavallette"
- NJ 101.5: "Lavallette Police Department was 'poorly managed' before takeover"
- Shorebeat: "Lavallette Police Chief Disputes Prosecutor's Report"
- Ocean County Prosecutor's Office: Official Statement on Return of Control
- Jersey Shore Online: "Coaster Climber Charged With Assault During Meeting"
- Ocean County Scanner News: Council Meeting Disturbance Report
- Shore News Network: "Justin Lamb Named Toms River Council President"
- News12: "Prosecutors: Lavallette police sergeant assaulted girlfriend"
- Justia: Vintzileos v. Lavallette Case Documents
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