Scene Around: Getting to Know Fair Haven’s New Cops

They’re on the Fair Haven police beat, sworn to protect and serve.

They are the Fair Haven Police Department’s two now new patrolmen, Jacob Gold and Katherine Martinez; and, they were sworn in at the Sept. 14 Fair Haven Borough Council meeting.

The swearing in of the two came after the positions were posted by the borough and interviews took place first with Chief Joe McGovern and secondly by the governing body, mayor and council on July 27. After the mayor and council interviews and closed session discussions, McGovern officially recommended the appointments of both “to maintain the department’s staffing model,” according to the appointment resolution. Both Gold and Martinez will serve as patrolmen and earn a salary of $55,808 per year. Their start dates were officially Sept. 16.

Fair Haven is what is referred to as a chief’s town in police hiring and hierarchy. That means that it is the chief’s recommendation and ultimate choice when it comes to new hires and promotions, backed by the governing body.

The backgrounds of the new police officers and how, exactly, the ranking and replacement hierarchy works was not discussed in detail at the swearing in, so R-FH Retro asked the chief for some more biographical background on the two newest officers.

Here’s what he told us …

Patrolman Jacob Gold

Jacob Gold being sworn in as a patrolman with Fair Haven Police Department at Sept. 14 Borough Council meeting
Photo/Borough of Fair Haven

Gold came to the Fair Haven Police Department from the Sea Girt Police Department where he served as a Class I Special Las Enforcement Officer, colloquially referred to as a Special officer, from May of 2023 to May of 2026. From May until his hiring in Fair Haven, he was a Class II Special after having graduated from the Monmouth County Police Academy.

Gold, 21, is a graduate of St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel and is currently pursuing a bachelor of arts (BA) degree in Criminal Justice/Homeland Security from Monmouth University, West Long Branch.

In the police hierarchy involving retirements and replacements slots, Gold is technically filling the vacancy left by retiring Cpl. John Koetzner. Ranks and hierarchy adjustments are made in the actual police officer line-up accordingly. R-FH Retro will follow up on that in the near future.

Patrolwoman Katherine Martinez

Katherine Martinez being sworn in as a patrolman with Fair Haven Police Department at Sept. 14 Borough Council meeting
Photo/Borough of Fair Haven

Martinez came to the Fair Haven Police Department from the Allenhurst Police Department, where she served as a Class I Special Law Enforcement Officer (SLEO) from May of 2024 to September of 2025. She served in Allenhurst as a Class II SLEO after graduating from the Monmouth County Police Academy in May of 2026 until her hiring in Fair Haven and swearing-in as a patrolman on Sept. 14.

Martinez, 21, graduated from Raritan High School in Hazlet and is currently attending Brookdale Community College where she is studying to earn an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice.

She is filling the vacancy of Chief Joe McGovern and will be assigned to the patrol division of the department.