The siblings allegedly conspired to pull off a medical insurance scheme.

FREEHOLD -- A Monmouth County grand jury on Monday indicted a suspended Asbury Park police officer and his sister on charges of insurance fraud.

The indictment charged Alix Antoine, a 12-year veteran of the Asbury Park Police Department who is suspended, with one count each of official misconduct, conspiracy to commit official misconduct, insurance fraud and tampering with public records, said acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni.

Also named in the indictment was Antoine's sister, Patricia Antoine, who is charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit official misconduct and insurance fraud.

Authorities said Alix Antoine filed false documents that allowed his sister to receive medical benefits she was not entitled to. Alix Antoine, 37, was a member of the Asbury Park Police Department at the time.

Both Alix and Patricia Antoine, 43, of Clifton, face a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison.

Alix Antoine was released from jail after he posted $150,000 bail. Patricia Antoine was released on her own recognizance. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Revolutionary War sites are great places to visit on the Fourth of July.

This July 4 commemorates the birth of our nation 240 years ago, and most folks will celebrate Independence Day with picnics, parades and fireworks.

I recently attended a family memorial at spectacular West Point and was struck by its convergence of natural beauty and our country's revolutionary war history.

Revolutionary War historic sites are scattered throughout New Jersey, and many of them are inspiring and beautiful. They are great places to learn a bit of history, celebrate our nation's founding and enjoy the landscapes.

New Jersey played a crucial role in the American Revolution and - located between the new nation's capital in Philadelphia and the British stronghold in New York - it was truly the "Crossroads of the American Revolution."  General George Washington and the Continental Army spent more days in New Jersey than any other state.

Recognizing the state's significance, President George W. Bush signed legislation in 2006 establishing the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, which encompasses parts of 14 New Jersey counties where significant events took place.

N.J. Fourth of July fireworks guide

The Heritage Area includes Morristown National Historic Park and sites associated with the Battles of Trenton, Princeton and Monmouth.  The Heritage Area also helps to preserve the historic landscapes of New Jersey ... the farms, fields, hills and valleys of the Crossroads region.

Here are some ideas for places to visit:

Morristown National Historic Park

Jockey Hollow, the winter encampment of the Continental Army and General George Washington's headquarters in Morristown in 1777 and 1779-80, preserves both the lands and historic features.

The Continental Army used its timber resources for the construction of over 1,000 soldier huts. If you explore the twenty seven miles of hiking trails there, you can see evidence of the "log-house city." 

Located in the headwaters of the Great Swamp Watershed, many of the park's trails crisscross the streams that provided Washington's soldiers with water.

Since the time of the Revolutionary War, the forest at the park has regrown into a secondary old growth tulip tree forest. There are up to 100 acres of old growth tulip trees now 150 to 220 years old, up to 42 inches in diameter and at least 120 feet tall.

Morristown National Historic Park includes three important Revolutionary War sites: Jockey Hollow, the Ford Mansion, and Fort Nonsense, the latter a hilltop fortification overlooking Morristown, including trenches, raised embankments, a signal beacon and fantastic views.

Battle of Trenton and Battle of Princeton

In the early months of the American Revolution, British forces had won key victories in New York and had driven the Continental Army to retreat into Pennsylvania.  If it were not for Washington's daring crossing of the Delaware River on a stormy Christmas night in 1776 leading to victories in Trenton and Princeton, it's likely that the Revolution could have come to an early end.

You can see the site of the Delaware River crossing at Washington's Crossing State Park in Titusville. Originally preserved for its historical significance, the park is also well known for its trails and wildlife habitat. A wide variety of migrating birds use the stream and ravine for resting and nesting.  A variety of spring and summer wildflowers can be found throughout the park, making it an idyllic setting for picnicking and hiking.

N.J.'s Revolutionary War history unearthed | Di Ionno

Not far away is Princeton Battlefield State Park, where on Jan. 3, 1777, Washington led his troops to Princeton for one of the fiercest battles of the Revolution. 

General Hugh Mercer, Washington's close friend, refused to surrender to British soldiers and was bayoneted several times before falling next to a large oak tree. The tree was known thereafter as the Mercer Oak.

It survived to the age of 300 years before it was felled by strong winds in March 2000. A sapling grown from a Mercer Oak acorn was planted inside the old stump and now the young "new" Mercer Oak is thriving in the same location.

Monmouth Battlefield State Park 

The Battle of Monmouth took place took place on June 28, 1778 when the Continental Army intercepted an army of British, German and Loyalist soldiers fleeing from Philadelphia to New York to escape an impending blockade of the Delaware River. While the British-led troops escaped, the battle established the effectiveness of the Continental Army and is considered an important strategic and political victory for General Washington.

The 1,800-acre park in Manalapan preserves a rural 18th-century landscape of hilly farmland and hedgerows that encompasses miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, picnic areas and a restored Revolutionary War farmhouse.

To find more Revolutionary War sites in New Jersey, go to the Crossroads of the American Revolution or visit the Revolutionary War New Jersey.

For information about preserving New Jersey's land and natural resources, visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation or contact me at info@njconservation.org.

Michele S. Byers is executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation

The 5.5-mile Shore Paddle stand-up paddle board event was scheduled to take place July 9. Watch video

OCEANPORT - A jellyfish with a wicked sting that has invaded New Jersey waters this summer is now responsible for the postponing and altogether cancelation of water-based events on the Jersey Shore.

The organizers of the Shore Paddle stand-up paddleboard event on the Shrewsbury River, which was scheduled to take place on July 9 to benefit Clean Ocean Action, became one of the first groups in New Jersey to choose the safety of their participants over hosting a planned event when they announced their event would be rescheduled for the spring of 2017.

The third annual event, hosted by the Shrewsbury Sailing & Yacht Club in Oceanport, invited participants of all ages to take part in events ranging from a 5.5-mile WPA sanctioned non-points race to a free half-mile kids paddle.

Clean Ocean Action and the Shore Paddle Committee made the announcement on Friday via the event's website and social media accounts:

"As you may have heard, the invasive clinging jellyfish (Gonionemus vertens) has recently appeared in abundance in several of New Jersey's estuaries and bays.  The sting of this jellyfish is severe to people and can cause serious pain and injury. Unfortunately, the most abundant population in N.J. has been documented in the Shrewsbury River, where there have been a few recent cases of individuals being stung and harmed by the jellyfish," the announcement said. "To ensure the safety of all paddlers and event-goers, Clean Ocean Action and the Shore Paddle Committee have decided to postpone the Shore Paddle until spring of 2017. The exact date will be determined in the coming weeks."

People who preregistered and/or prepaid to participate in the event are expected to receive an email early next week with addition information on registration options.

On Sunday, the board of the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association also announced it would be cancelling its River Rangers youth program this year due to the jellyfish, as well as Navesink River pollution.

"Over the past twelve years of successful River RangersSM programs on our local waters, we have made child safety and wellbeing our #1 priority.  In the last weeks we have had to acknowledge two issues that impact our duty to keep your children safe - Navesink River pollution and an invasive Pacific Ocean jelly fish that, although very small, has a poisonous sting," the NMHA said in a release.  "Because the River Rangers program is as much about being IN the water as ON it while studying our environment and having a good time, these reports led us to the decision to cancel this year's program."

The association said parents who already paid for their children to participate would receive complete refunds.

The dime-sized clinging jellyfish aren't new to the United States - having been introduced to the East Coast from the Pacific in 1894 in Woods Hole, Mass. - but they are new to New Jersey.

Paul Bologna, director of marine biology and coastal science at Montclair State University, told NJ Advance Media that a fisherman in Point Pleasant reported the first sighting in early June.

When news of that sighting spread, more people started reporting additional sightings.

A Middletown man was later hospitalized after being stung while swimming in the Shrewsbury River, the Monmouth Beach Office of Emergency Management reported in a June 15 alert.

The creature's sting can cause "excruciating pain", muscle weakness and serious medical problems, including kidney failure, experts have said.

Because they are small, the clinging jellyfish tend to stay in calm water, so they're not likely to be found in the ocean, Bologna said. They also generally inhabit the shallower water of bays, "clinging" to eel grass or seaweed during the day and surfacing to feed at night.    

Any who sees the distinctive jellyfish in a local waterway is being asked to report it to the state Department of Environmental Protection by calling 877-WARN-NJDEP, and to also take a photo of the jellyfish from a distance.

Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Help us name the top beach among Jersey's more than 140 miles of shoreline

To many New Jerseyans, all sand is not created equal.

Since Memorial Day weekend, leagues of shore-goers have returned to their preferred beach -- a spot chosen from more than 140 miles of the state's coveted shoreline.

And as thousands more will surely flock to the surf through the approaching months, we at NJ Advance Media are set to embark on our search for New Jersey's ultimate summer spot. 

Below is a poll with all 40 of New Jersey's oceanfront properties, from Sandy Hook down to Cape May. Consider our criteria listed below and vote for your favorite beach.

Afterward, feel free to tell us in the comments why you love it most. And please be specific in where you like to lounge, i.e. 3rd Avenue Beach in Belmar or near the Bal Harbour hotel in Wildwood Crest. 

Voting will close July 5 at 9 a.m., and the six top vote-getters will each be visited and judged on the same attributes listed below, with individual stories written and photos taken of said finalist beaches. 

And before July's end, we will name the definitive best beach in New Jersey! Who deserves the title? Vote below. 

BEST BEACH CRITERIA

- Quality of beach itself: sand cleanliness, swimmable water, etc. 

- Quality and size of out-of-town crowds (less is usually more)

- Availability of boardwalks, food and recreation

- Cost of beach badges 

POLL CAVEATS 

- Only oceanfront beaches were included. 

- Beaches are represented by the municipality in which they reside. For instance, Long Beach Township accounts for Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, etc. 

- For sake of size and popularity, Sandy Hook (Middletown) and Island Beach State Park (Berkeley) were included as separate entries in the poll. 

Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The new parking ordinance will be introduced at its public meeting on Wednesday evening. Watch video

DEAL -- The borough plans to introduce an ordinance at its public meeting on Wednesday evening that will require residential permit parking on nearly a dozen streets with beach access points.

Stephen R. Carasia, the borough's clerk and administrator, cautioned on Tuesday that the ordinance is yet to be introduced and is still in the process of being created.

"It has nothing to do with restricting public access," he said.

Carasia said the ordinance would require residential permit parking on one side of the street on Monmouth Terrace, Monmouth Drive, Hathaway Avenue, Sydney Avenue, Neptune Avenue, Deal Esplanade, Darlington Road, Ocean Lane and Roosevelt Avenue. The parking restrictions would be enforced from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and holidays.

The ordinance (No. 1134), however, is all too familiar to beach public access advocates who have fought the borough in the past on similar grounds.

The borough tried to pass a similar ordinance in October. That ordinance looked to bring residential permit parking to both sides of six borough streets near beach access points. 

But the ordinance was tabled after it was met with opposition from a public group, Citizens in Opposition to Beach Restrictive Access (COBRA).

Beach access advocates argued that the ordinance was especially troubling given Deal's beaches were nearing the completion of a $40 million taxpayer-funded beach replenishment project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The replenishment work has since been completed, Carasia said.

Andrew Chambarry, an attorney who works closely with COBRA, said in an email on Tuesday that officials promised to work with local citizens after it tabled the first parking ordinance in October. 

"Ordinance 1134 is not a solution, but another attempt to limit access to newly replenished beaches," Chambarry said.  

The first parking ordinance also caught the attention of officials with the state Department of Environmental Protection. A spokesman for the agency, Bob Considine, said at the time that the DEP had "concerns" the ordinance would impact public access.

"It could conflict with the agreement signed with the U.S. Army Corps project," Considine said at the time.

In an email sent on Tuesday, Considine said the agency had yet to review the language of the ordinance in full. 

"Obviously, we would have concerns with any action that could restrict access, but we'll reserve judgement until we see the final ordinance," he said. 

The ordinance is on the agenda for the public meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Deal Borough Hall, 190 Norwood Avenue. There will be no discussion on the ordinance when it is introduced, but members of the public will have a chance to chime in during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to include a response from a State Department of Environmental Protection spokesman. it also includes more information about the ordinance in regards to time restrictions and specific days it will be enforced. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The number of homeless people in New Jersey declined by 12.4 percent this year compared to a year earlier

WASHINGTON -- The number of homeless people in New Jersey declined by 12.4 percent this year compared to 2015, according to the states's annual count.

The count, conducted on Jan. 26, found 8,941 homeless men, women and children, down from 10,211 in 2015, according to the count coordinated by Monarch Housing.

"This year's count shows a significant decrease of individuals experiencing homelessness in New Jersey," said Katelyn Cunningham, associate at Monarch Housing.

Essex County had the largest number of homeless people, 1,782, or 19.9 percent of the statewide homeless population. Next was Burlington County, with 928 people, or 10.4 percent of the count; and Hudson County, with 829 people or 9.3 percent.

N.J. homeless population declines

Monarch Housing said there still were barriers to ending homelessness, including a shortage of shelter beds, a lack of rental apartments, low-paying jobs and the failure of Congress to increase funding for vouchers that help cover the cost of housing.

One concern was the increase in the number of individuals living on the street, in cars, in train stations, in abandoned buildings. These "unsheltered" individuals are distinct from those who have temporary lodging in a shelter.

That number rose by 48 percent to 1,442 in 2016 from 974 persons in 2015.

"The increase in the unsheltered population shows us that there is still a great deal of work to be done to expand the resources needed," Cunningham said.

In March, Gov. Chris Christie proposed spending more than $5 million for 500 more vouchers for the state's Rental Assistance Program. They would go to chronically homeless or people that rely on public assistance.

The Obama administration in 2010 began an effort to eliminate homelessness, and a national count is conducted on one night in January.

The report issued Tuesday said that more than one-fifth of the homeless, 21.4 percent, were asked to leave a residence they were sharing with other people; 13.5 percent lost their jobs or had their hours reduced; and 13.4 percent either were evicted or were going to be.

Last year's count showed that the number of homeless people in New Jersey declined more than in 45 other states in the last year, according to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development's 2015 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. The number of reported homeless in the state declined by 1,573, a 13.5 percent drop.

From 2007 to 2015, the state had 7,216 fewer homeless individuals, the fourth biggest drop in the country and a 41.7 percent decline. During that same five-year period, the national homeless rate dropped by 82,550, or 11 percent.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Another in the 'Backroads, New Jersey' series

For 54 miles, Route 539 goes almost straight.

And flat.

There were no hills to curve around or sedimentary rock to blast though when one of New Jersey's longest inter-county roads was paved.

From Tuckerton to just outside Cranbury, Route 539 is a trip through New Jersey's Coastal Plain of sand, silt and clay.

It is a road of clam shacks and bayside shanties in Tuckerton, of 1800s farmhouses and barns in Plumstead and the picturesque villages of Allentown and Hightstown, draped in American flags.

In places like Warren Grove, the head of a tall man or woman peeking over the scrub pines, can be the highest point around. When taller pines emerge, a fire tower deck becomes the place where you can see for miles and miles.  

But as Ocean County gives way to western Monmouth, the landscape changes abruptly and the Pine Barrens yield to the lush hay and corn fields and horse farms of Central Jersey. Thoroughbreds graze, penned in by miles of fences.

In little more than an hour, the road journeys through four distinct cultures -- bay, pines, rural and suburbs -- of our compact state. 

Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@starledger.com. Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook.  

Seventeen dogs were rescued from conditions officials say were the worst they've ever seen.

KEYPORT -- Care efforts are underway for the 17 dogs removed from conditions at a Keyport home that officials say were the worst they've ever seen.

Keyport police responded to the Pine Street home late Saturday night after receiving a complaint of barking dogs. When police arrived, they saw the windows were blanketed in flies and debris. Several dogs were running in the yard and there was a strong odor emanating from the home, officials said.

The Monmouth County SPCA was called in after police found dogs covered with garbage, fleas and feces.

Monmouth County SPCA Lt. Tom Nuccio said the conditions in the home were deplorable.

"The worst I've seen in my 25 years of law enforcement," he said in a press release.

Seventeen dogs  -- 11 puppies and six adult dogs around 3 or 4 years old -- were removed from the home.

"This flea infestation is the worst I have ever seen," said Nicole Feddersen, medical director of the Monmouth County SPCA. "We couldn't tell that the white dogs were actually white."

At the Monmouth County SPCA headquarters in Eatontown, where officials are still caring for a portion of the 276 dogs removed from the recent extreme hoarding case in Howell, the Keyport dogs underwent physical examinations, heartworm tests, received vaccinations and had microchips placed in them. 

Feddersen said the dogs are frightened and anti-social, but they are starting to come around.

"They are eating well and getting lots of TLC," she said.

The dogs will be up for adoption within seven to 14 days, official said. They still need to be spayed and neutered.

The Monmouth County SPCA is seeking monetary donations for medical treatment, food, supplies and care to the dogs while they wait for adoption. Donations can be made on the agency's website, by phone (732-440-1557) or through the mail. Donations can be mailed to: MCSPCA, Keyport Case, 260 Wall Street, Eatontown, NJ 07724. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Authorities removed three dozen cats from a Colts Neck property in response to an animal cruelty complaint.

COLTS NECK - Authorities have removed three dozen cats from a Magnolia Lane property in response to an animal cruelty complaint made through the New Jersey Animal Cruelty Hotline.

Monmouth County SPCA law enforcement officials spent Monday night into Tuesday morning removing seven cats and kittens from the Magnolia Lane home, another 17 with the help from the homeowner and the remaining 12 on the property using traps, authorities said.

The resident of the Mangnolia Lane home, as well as some neighbors, had been feeding the indoor/outdoor cats and kittens for the past several years, the MCSPCA said in a release.

Lt. Tom Nuccio said in the release that the home was "in good condition, however the cats and kittens have severe upper respiratory infections, several cases of conjunctivitis and possible pregnancies due to the animals not being spayed and neutered."

The cats and kittens are now in the care of the Monmouth County SPCA and are being vaccinated, dewormed and FIV/FeLV tested, officials said.

The adult cats that lived outdoors and were considered feral will go through the Monmouth County SPCA TNR program, during which they will be spayed, neutered and released back onto the property.

The kittens will be spayed and neutered and are expected to be put up for adoption in the next few weeks.

Authorities said the homeowner has cooperated fully with law enforcement and the MCSPCA asked outside rescue groups refrain from interfering, citing it was "in the best interest of all parties involved."

The MCSPCA did not say if the homeowner would be charged with any animal cruelty offenses..

"While the Monmouth County SPCA's primary concern is for the safety and welfare of these animals, our organization is also a strong resource for residents in Monmouth County," MCSPCA Executive Director Ross Licitra said in a release. "Our low cost spay, neuter and vaccine program makes it easier for people who are struggling to keep their pets healthy and avoid situations before they get out of control, like the ones we are currently seeing. Please reach out to us for information and resources if you are having a problem, before you become overwhelmed."

The Monmouth County SPCA is in need of monetary donations to provide medical treatment, food, supplies and care to the cats while they await placement.

All donations can be made online via www.monmouthcountyspca.org, through the mail via MCSPCA, Colts Neck Cats, 260 Wall Street, Eatontown NJ 07724, or over the phone by calling 732-440-1557.

Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Here's what you will pay to get on Monmouth County's ocean beaches

Take a look at the locations and legacy of the most unique shark attacks in history.

The couple each received more than 550 counts of animal cruelty.

HOWELL -- A couple who housed 276 dogs in what officials called the worst hoarding case in Monmouth County history, appeared in municipal court in Howell on Wednesday to face more than 500 counts of animal cruelty.

If Charlene and Joseph Handrick are each found guilty of a 552 counts of animal cruelty, they could face more than $1 million in fines. However, officials with the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said that wasn't a likely scenario.

Officials with the Monmouth County SPCA responded to the Handrick's bi-level Bennett Road home on June 3rd after one of the couple's dogs got loose. An officer for the Associated Humane Societies was in the area trying to find the home of the lost dog when he came upon the so-called hoarding house. The officer heard barking of what he assumed was about 20 dogs.

When officials first started removing the dogs -- mostly mixes of yorkies, poos, Chihuahuas and pugs -- they first thought about 80 to 100 dogs were in the home. However, as the day progressed, they quickly realized they were dealing with a more serious case of extreme hoarding. In all, 276 dogs -- ranging in age from 4 years old to 15 minutes old -- were pulled from the home.

At least one dog was giving birth on the kitchen counter as officers were pulling the dogs from the home.

At municipal court in Howell, the couple appeared side by side in front of Judge Susan Schroeder Clark.

Clark told the couple that they each face 276 counts of animal cruelty for failing to provide proper and necessary veterinary care to their dogs and 276 counts of animal cruelty for inflicting unnecessary cruelty upon a living animal or creature by providing inhumane living conditions.

All of the charges are disorderly persons offenses.

Along with a $1,000 fine for each count, the couple faces mandatory community service and could be ordered to pay restitution for shelter, food and veterinary care for the dogs. They also could serve six months in jail.

Monmouth County SPCA Lt. Tom Nuccio told reporters after the brief court hearing that the cost of restitution could be close to six figures.

Nuccio said none of the 276 dogs have died, and all are in "good shape." He said about 30 to 40 dogs have already been adopted.

He said officials are in the process of seeking to have restrictions placed on the Handrik's so that they can't purchase any more dogs. But, Nuccio said, if they wanted to buy a dog today, nothing could stop them from doing that. The couple has not purchased any new dogs, he added, though they initially tried to get a couple back from authorities.

"These are like their children," Nuccio said.

Clark entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Charlene and Joseph Handrick. Clark denied Charlene Handrick's request for a public defender after reviewing her application. She will be given the opportunity to hire an attorney that fits with her budget. After hearing Charlene Handrick's exchange with Clark, Joseph Handrick indicated that he would hire an attorney.

A future court date will be scheduled, and the couple will return with their attorneys. No date has been set yet.

The couple declined to speak with reporters after the hearing. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A year after a Neptune Township cop killed his ex-wife on an Asbury Park street, questions remain on law enforcement's response. Watch video

FREEHOLD - More than one year after off-duty Neptune Township police Sgt. Philip Seidle gunned down his ex-wife on an Asbury Park street, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office is expected to release its findings of its review into law enforcement's response.

Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni announced Thursday that he would hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Thursday to report his office's findings.

Earlier this month, Gramiccioni defended the lengthiness of the investigation to NJ Advance Media, saying it was necessary for a thorough report that addresses all the components of a complex case.

The investigation involved interviews with "hundreds of witnesses" and reviews of "thousands of pages of documents," he said.

"A review of this magnitude requires diligence and thoughtful rigor, not perfunctory release at the expense of thoroughness," Gramiccioni told NJ Advance Media.

Authorities said Seidle was angered over what he has said was his Tamara Wilson-Seidle's interference with his visitation with their nine children.

So on June 16, 2015, Seidle chased his ex-wife through the streets of Asbury Park, crashed into her Volkswagen Jetta, forcing her to slam into a parked car on Sewall Avenue and then, within seconds, began shooting at Tamara Seidle.

Seidle first pumped eight rounds into her through the driver's side window, then headed to the front of the car where he fired off another four rounds through the windshield, striking her, authorities said.

The couple's then 7-year-old daughter witnessed the first round of shootings from the front seat of her father's Honda Pilot.

After the shooting, Seidle held his gun to his head, holding police at bay for about a half hour before he finally surrendered.

Dozens of people who live in the neighborhood or were near the crime scene watched in horror and disbelief as the ambush unfolded.

Later, many of them questioned why police didn't shoot Seidle before he unloaded the second round of shots or while he threatened suicide.

The prosecutor's office launched a criminal investigation into Tamara Seidle's death after the shooting and simultaneously started a separate administrative review of the law enforcement response to the shooting, he said.

The report is expected to include findings on several questions raised about how police responded to the attack. These questions include whether police should have used deadly force against Seidle, whether he received preferential treatment from other police officers at the scene because he was a cop and whether Seidle's weapon, which he used to kill his ex-wife, should have been taken away given the number of domestic calls police received from the couple during and after their 23-year marriage.

Suspended from the force, Seidle, 52, pleaded guilty in March to aggravated manslaughter and child endangerment. When he is sentenced on Aug. 18, Seidle, a 22-year veteran of the department, faces 30 years in prison.

Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Lower cancer rates? Or just a gloppy mess?

Would you be more likely to use sunscreen if it was given away for free?

The New York Times reports today that New York City is considering a program to give away free sunscreen to beachgoers as a public health campaign to prevent melanoma.  

The 1916 New Jersey shark attacks: a multimedia tour of locations then and now

The proposal by the city comptroller calls for a system of dispensers, installed at the city's parks, pools and beaches, that would dole out free sunscreen. It would operate at little or no cost, likely with sunscreen donated by nongovernmental organizations. 

Similar programs are already in place in Miami Beach and Boston, according to the Times. 

We couldn't help but wonder - would this work at the Jersey Shore?

Would dispensers full of the stuff at beach entrances lead to a long term reduction in skin cancer rates (and weekends ruined by sunburn) or just a gloppy mess at the beach entrance?

It's worth considering, if only to underscore how important cancer experts believe it is for us to protect ourselves from the sun's rays - and the lenghts they're willing to go to ensure that we do. 

 Brian Donohue may be reached at bdonohue@njadvancemedia.com Follow him on Twitter @briandonohue. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Fireworks -- one of the few things that people from the past 200+ years have all shared the same way.

I could try to open with a joke, but I don't think I could do better than Stephen Colbert:

"It's Fourth of July weekend, or, as I call it, Exploding Christmas."

The holidays are as different as July is to December, of course, but they are the same in that they're both chock full of tradition. They are celebrated with family, food and festivities. And, in the case of Independence Day - fireworks.

With these vintage galleries, we look back on a variety of topics. And, we can see differences from one decade to the next in just about all of them. With Fourth of July photos that feature fireworks, however, there is a certain sameness.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

Fireworks have been magnificent for centuries. Invented by the Chinese millennia ago, people were launching fireworks in the late-18^th century to celebrate America's independence, and not only did they look and sound pretty much the same way they do today ... they were technologically similar as well.

That grown-up feeling when you were finally allowed to handle a sparkler on the Fourth!Courtesy of fireworks.com 

There is a company named Pyrotecnico on Garden Road in Franklin Township, Gloucester County. It used to be the Vineland Fireworks Co. when I was a lad, and for decades they've crafted aerial bombs and exploding shells the way it was done ages ago.

Certainly, the launch methods have gotten fancier in some places; many of the huge fireworks shows employ computer-controlled launch circuits wired to thousands of mortars. But in most local shows, trained professionals fire off shells from mortar tubes by lighting fuses with magnesium flares.

There's something genuinely satisfying about watching fireworks light up the night sky, hearing the ooohs and aaaahs of the crowd, and knowing that it's one of the few things that people from the past 200+ years have all shared the same way.

Here's a gallery of vintage photos of people celebrating America in New Jersey on the Fourth of July. Be sure captions are enabled to learn more about each photo.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

From deadly mob disputes to heated political battles and entertainment squabbles, New Jersey has had more than its fair share of nasty - and sometimes wacky - feuds. One involved a cannon, another involved toilet paper. Here are 20 of the most prominent disputes that have taken place in the Garden State.

Deal introduced its controversial parking ordinance Wednesday night.

DEAL -- Residents and locals packed into a tiny room inside borough hall Wednesday night and fervently demanded the council withdraw a proposed ordinance that would require residential permit parking on nearly a dozen streets with beach access points.

At the meeting, the council introduced the ordinance that critics say only serves to placate the owners of multi-million dollar beachfront homes while unfairly restricting locals, surfers and fisherman alike from being able to access the borough's free beaches.

"What it really boils down to isn't a parking thing," said Andrew L. Chambarry, an attorney who works closely with Citizens in Opposition to Beach Restrictive Access (COBRA), a group staunchly opposed to the ordinance. "This is about the limitation of the public beach, keeping surfers fishermen alike away."

The ordinance would require residential permit parking on one side of the street on Monmouth Terrace, Monmouth Drive, Hathaway Avenue, Sydney Avenue, Neptune Avenue, Deal Esplanade, Darlington Road, Ocean Lane and Roosevelt Avenue, previous reports said. Enforcement of the parking restrictions would occur from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and holidays.

Mayor Sam Cohen maintained, however, that the ordinance was never meant to restrict beach access, but rather to address the frustrations of the beachfront residents who have continually complained about being able to park at their residences.

Cohen said he understood the feelings of those in opposition of the measure, but he noted that residents had a right to park at their homes without obstruction.

There's no sign the Borough plans to withdraw its proposed ordinance; however, Chambarry believes the Deal's roughly $38-million, taxpayer-funded beach replenishment project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- which is approaching completion -- offers beach access advocates an avenue to continue the fight against the measure. A provision of the project requires there to be reasonable public access to the replenished beaches. Restricting parking, Chambarry says, would violate that provision.

Cohen said, however, that the Borough's attorneys had reviewed "all the rules" and concluded there would still be reasonable access to the beaches in accordance with the provision.

Chambarry spoke during the meeting and challenged the Borough's motive in seeking to pass the measure. At one point, he turned to the audience and asked if there were any residents in the crowd that supported the ordinance.

A man who later identified himself Teddy Braha, a 52-year Deal resident who lives on Ocean Avenue, stood in anger. There was a minor moment of contention between the two that quickly fizzled.

Braha later spoke before the Council and said he didn't have so much of a problem with parking as he did with garbage and disturbances from large crowds that even some critics of the measure conceded can be annoying at times. Braha also said he constantly sees people undressing in public, which he said he finds rude and unsightly.

"The kids, they get undressed," he said vexed after the meeting.

But Chambarry said those issues, no matter how annoying they may be, remained a completely separate matter from parking.

The Council should raise fines on garbage then," he said.

Tray Cooper, a 24-year-old Ocean Port resident who works at a local surf shop, also spoke during the meeting and told the Council that he believed passing the ordinance would seriously impact those who have been coming to the Borough's beaches for many years.

"I grew up on this beach and ... if you guys go through with this ordinance; the (negative) impact, socially, far outweighs the positive," Cooper said.

He finished by saying, "I beg of you, please throw out this ordinance, it is no good (for the community)."

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The circa-2000 law has been cited in land-use disputes involving churches, synagogues, temples and mosques around the U.S.

In Bernards Township, it's a mosque that local residents want to keep out.

In Jacksonville Beach, Fl., the fight was over an Anglican chapel.

The Sikhs fought in Sutter County, Ca., and it is an Orthodox congregation in Howell that has been at odds with township officials.

The first words of the First Amendment seem direct enough: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

But local communities can also make laws regulating where developments -- including houses of worship and religious schools -- can be located and how big they can be, and the fight over where religious organizations may plant roots goes on across the country every day.   

Sixteen years ago, when Congress became aware that more and more towns across the country were using local zoning codes to prevent religious communities from building places of worship, it passed the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, a powerful civil rights tool that can bring the weight of the federal government into disputes between communities and faith groups.

It's this law that is at the center of dispute between Bernards Township and The Islamic Society of Basking Ridge, as well as several other New Jersey faith communities and their host municipalities.

The society in March filed a federal lawsuit against the township, citing violations of the act and several of its members' constitutional rights, after township planners denied an application to build a mosque. The denial came after 39 public hearings over four years. 

An artist's rendering of the rejected Bernards mosque. (Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler)
 

The filing also attracted the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice, which is investigating whether the society's religious rights were violated. 

The society charges in its lawsuit that rejection of its application was driven at least in part by "anti-Muslim animus," and cited ongoing "pronounced" public hostility to its plans over the years. Township planners put up "one unreasonable and picayune land-use objection after another," its lawsuit said. 

Township officials have denied any anti-Muslim intent in their legal reply. The township, they said in court documents, "evenhandedly" followed the Institute of Traffic Engineers' standards and its ordinances.

But under the federal land-use law, following engineering standards may not be enough to deny an application. The law leaves it up to a judge to determine if planning and zoning rules make it too difficult for religious groups to practice their faith. 

Defining a 'substantial burden'

The act, which practitioners refer to by its acronym, RLUIPA, prohibits communities from enacting local codes that impose a "substantial burden" on religious observation.

To Angela Carmella, professor of law at Seton Hall University's School of Law, that test leaves a lot of room for legal argument. 

"What does it mean to substantially burden a religion?" she asked. "It can't mean denial of a permit." 

While that is a question left for judges, one thing that is clearer under the law is that building a house of worship is now legally considered part of the practice of religion, she said. 

"Before RLUIPA was in place, a lot of federal courts said that building houses of worship didn't really count as religious exercise," Carmella said. "It was just building a building."

The law, she added, does not invalidate planning and zoning codes. However, it does require that if a community permits secular uses that create traffic, public gatherings and development similar to a house of worship, it can't prohibit development of churches, synagogues, temples and mosques in similar zones. 

Just as courts have room to determine if a religious group is substantially burdened, planning and zoning boards also have room for interpretation, said Gary T. Hall of McCarter & English in Newark.  

"A lot of this stuff can be subjective, so there's no one right answer," he said. 

When a proposed development is a permitted use on a property, that usually gives "a leg up" to the landowner, Hall said. 

Still, "it's usually not that difficult to come up with reasons" to deny an application, he said, adding that it's not good enough to say, "We don't like this or want this."

Although the law was initially intended to aid religious groups, municipalities that oppose their developments can win on the local level.

In one example, a community of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Oregon sued over denial of its application to build a meeting house. The court ruled in favor of the city of West Linn, saying there was no evidence the city would deny a revised application if the church met the city's demands. 

But in a number of cases, including Bernards, allegations of bias tainted the development process, Carmella said, and that often is where courts rule for the religious groups.

It also is when the Justice Department intervenes.

When the Justice Dept. gets involved

The U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey doesn't have the resources to investigate and litigate all of the cases where religious groups claim discrimination, said U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.  

U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Paul J. Fishman. (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
 

"We try to identify those in which our involvement will be of most significance," he said. "In many instances, particularly in the civil rights area, the department's goal is not necessarily to punish those who might violate the law, but to protect those whose rights might be abridged if somebody does something wrong."

Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU's Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, said the department doesn't always get directly involved in disputes between communities and religious groups claiming discrimination.

"One thing is certain," Mach said. "Once the Department of Justice gets involved, it is a claim that should be taken very seriously."

The department's involvement was a game-changer for Tony Peraica, a Chicago-area attorney representing a community of Bosnian Muslims whose application to open a mosque in Des Plains, Ill. was rejected. There, the Justice Department in September sued the city over its rejection of the group's application to locate the mosque in an industrial area.

The community had been attempting since 2013 to secure zoning approval for the property, which is vacant, according to the department.

Discrimination rising in divisive times

"It helped the plaintiffs greatly in that the full force of the Justice Department's civil rights division has been brought to bear," Peraica said. 

Officials in Des Plains declined to comment on the case, which is ongoing in Illinois' Northern District. 

David Jacobs, a press assistant for the department, also declined to discuss issues surrounding when and why it decides to intervene in cases where religious communities feel they are being mistreated. 

Jacobs did point to a Justice report looking back on the first 10 years of the religious land use law. Over that time period, it said, the department had either directly intervened, filed suit or filed so-called "friend of the court" briefs with its interpretation of the law nearly 100 times. 

The law "had a dramatic impact in its first 10 years on protecting the religious freedom of and preventing religious discrimination against individuals and institutions seeking to exercise their religions through construction, expansion, and use of property," it said. 

The law also protects inmates seeking a religiously appropriate diet and dress while incarcerated, and to students who want to observe their faith while in school.

Who invokes the act

It's no surprise that the land-use law is cited more often in cases involving religious minorities, Carmella added. In some cases, discrimination is obvious, she said, citing a California case where a Sikh community agreed to every land-use demand ordered by Sutter County officials who still denied the application to build without stated reasons. A court ruled in favor of the Sikh group, a ruling upheld on appeal. 

RLUIPA has been cited in cases involving Christian communities, too. About 30 percent of cases involving the religious land-use law over its first 10 years applied to Christian communities, with about half of those involving predominantly white congregations, the justice department report said.

In New Jersey, the law came into play in recent years in Wayne and Bridgewater, both of which denied applications to build mosques. In both cases, the Muslim applicants prevailed. 

While the Albanian Associated Fund in Wayne ultimately decided to open a mosque in Riverdale, Bridgewater officials approved a site for the Al Falah mosque -- only after the township agreed to buy a parcel of land for the mosque and settle its legal complaint at a total cost of $7.75 million. The mosque is still in the development stage.  

RLUIPA now is being invoked by the Chabad Jewish Center of Toms River, which in March sued the township and its zoning board of adjustment for blocking a religious center in a home where it had been operating since 2011. 

Congregation Kollel in May also cited the law in a suit against the Howell Township  Zoning Board of Adjustment, which, it said, was motivated by negative views of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. 

And supporters of a Jewish boarding school in January sued Ocean Township and its Zoning Board of Adjustment, again citing the law, after its application was denied last year.

New Jersey probably is susceptible to these sorts of disputes because people are usually reluctant to want more cars and building in their neighborhoods -- the so-called not-in-my-backyard effect -- and New Jersey is the nation's most densely populated state, said Hall, the land-use attorney.

"It's crowded and people feel congested," he said. 

 Carmella said the land-use law is "a big statute" that is designed to be broadly interpreted, as well as provide avenues other than punitive measures.

The law "encourages working things out," she said. That may require a community to amend overly restrictive ordinances, she said, but that would be preferable to other outcomes. 

"It's intended to encourage discussion, not just litigation" she said. 

Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Computer equipment and records were seized during a series of raids at the School for Children with Hidden Intelligence Wednesday, the Asbury Park Press reported.

LAKEWOOD -- State law enforcement officials conducted a series of raids Wednesday targeting a private special education school, the School for Children with Hidden Intelligence, Asbury Park Press reported.

Officers with the state Department of Law and Public Safety hauled away stacks of cardboard boxes and computer equipment from the school Wednesday evening, the newspaper reported. Authorities haven't yet commented as to the reason behind the raids.

SCHI, according to its website, "provides educational and therapeutic services by certified professional staff to children with disabilities as varied as autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, muscular dystrophy, Spina bifida, and cerebral palsy, among others."

The Asbury Park Press reported SCHI has previously sparked controversy over its high tuition, $97,000 per year, and the composition of the student body. To receive taxpayer-funded students from public school districts, the school is required to be nonsectarian but the overwhelming majority of students placed there by the Lakewood school district have been Orthodox Jewish children, according to the newspaper.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A report by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office concludes there was nothing police could have done to save Tamara Wilson-Seidle. Watch video

FREEHOLD -- Asbury Park police officers could not have prevented an off-duty police sergeant from gunning down his ex-wife in broad daylight, according to a yearlong investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office released Thursday morning.

The exhaustive internal review, conducted by the prosecutor's office's Professional Response Unit, also determined that the first officer at the scene failed to pass on critical information to other officers, and that the highest ranked officer not only failed to take control of the scene, but left the area twice.

The results of the investigation -- which involved hundreds of witnesses, thousands of pages of documents, photos and video footage from witnesses and police cruiser dashboard cameras -- were announced by acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni, a little more than a year after the grisly incident played out in front of dozens of witnesses on an Asbury Park street.

The report includes findings on several questions raised about how police responded to the attack, including: whether police should have used deadly force against Philip Seidle, whether he received preferential treatment from other police officers at the scene because he was a cop and whether the weapon he used to kill his ex-wife, Tamara Wilson-Seidle, should have been taken away prior to the shooting, given the number of domestic calls police received from the couple during and after their 23-year marriage.

"We didn't have a crystal ball," Gramiccioni said. "These incidents were extraordinary and chaotic. It's not found in textbooks or police academy training standards on how to respond to these things. It simply couldn't be anticipated."

Should deadly force have been used?

On June 16, 2015, angered over what Philip Seidle has said was Tamara Wilson-Seidle's interference with his visitation with their nine children, he chased her through the streets of Asbury Park, crashed into her Volkswagen Jetta, forcing her to slam into a parked car on Sewall Avenue and then, within seconds, began shooting at her.

Seidle first pumped eight rounds into her through the driver's side window, then headed to the front of the car where he fired off another four rounds through the windshield, striking her, authorities said.

A medical examiner's report concluded Tamara Wilson-Seidle died from one of the shots fired in the first round, Gramiccioni said.

A photo taken from the scene of the crash on Sewall Avenue in Asbury Park. (Courtesy of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office) 

The couple's then 7-year-old daughter witnessed the first round of shootings from the front seat of her father's Honda Pilot. She was removed from the scene by officers just before Seidle fired a second round of shots.

The prosecutor's office's report concluded that there were a number of factors that determined why responding officers should not have used deadly force against Seidle. Chief among them was that he held his service weapon to his head immediately after he fired the first round of shots into his ex-wife's car and kept it there for the duration of the approximately 45-minute standoff.   

The state Attorney General's Use of Force policy prohibits officers from using deadly force when a person is at risk of harming him or herself. Gramiccioni said he believes Seidle, a 22-year veteran with the Neptune Police Department, was aware of these guidelines. 

"It is my belief that he knew that this would prevent him from being shot by fellow officers," Gramiccioni said. 

Seidle pleaded guilty in March to aggravated manslaughter and child endangerment, and faces 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 18. However, he has exercised his constitutional right not to be interviewed by investigators, Gramiccioni said. 

The investigation into the use of force heavily focused on the first five officers at the scene, all of whom were members of the Asbury Park Police Department, Gramiccioni said. The first officer who responded was already at the corner where the incident occurred tending to an unrelated car crash.

That officer and two people he was talking to were nearly hit by Tamara Wilson-Seidle's car as it whipped around the corner onto Sewell Avenue, police dash camera shows.

After the first round of shots, the officer calls in a report of "shots fired," and then appears to retreat behind his vehicle. He then calls in that Philip Seidle has a gun pointed to his head, Gramiccioni said. 

About 10 seconds later, the second officer arrives on the scene but doesn't exit his vehicle right away. Instead, he repositions it to block off the roadway. Three more officers then arrive at the scene.

"These are the only five that are in the general vicinity who could have maybe done something about this," Gramiccioni said.

But due to their distance from Philip Seidle, how quickly the events unfolded and the fact that he was at risk of harming himself, use of force was not the correct course of action for the officers to take, Gramiccioni said.

A diagram created by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office shows the trajectory of the bullets if the first five officers who responded fired their weapons in relation to where civilians, marked by a blue "C," were positioned. (Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office)

Adding to that determination was the number of residents in the area as the events unfolded, Gramiccioni said. A diagram showing the trajectory of the bullets had the five officers fired their weapons indicates at least four residents were potentially in harm's way. 

"At the end of the day, none of these five officers were ever in a position to use reasonable lethal force against (Philip) Seidle," Gramiccioni said.

However, Gramiccioni said he would recommend discipline against the first officer at the scene for "failing to communicate critical information."

The officer failed to indicate that there was a car chase, a collision and that the driver jumped out and fired eight shots into the other vehicle, Gramiccioni explained. 

"That material information would have been helpful to arriving officers," he said, adding those officers were only responding to a report of shots fired.

The third officer at the scene was a neighbor to Philip and Tamara Wilson-Seidle, so he was familiar with both of their cars, Gramiccioni said. But, Gramiccioni said, he did no relay that information to dispatch. He was also the highest ranking police officer at the scene at the time and left twice: once to take the Seidle's daughter to police headquarters two minutes after the second round of shots were fired and then again to take the first officer at the scene back to headquarters.

Gramiccioni said he would refer discipline for that officer to the Asbury Park Police Department for demonstrating "poor" leadership, failure to take command and control. He cannot impose discipline, though.

"Better command and control would not have affected the tragic result of Tami Seidle's death because of how quick it all happened," Gramiccioni said.

Was Sgt. Seidle given preferential treatment?

The first officer who responded to the scene is heard on dash camera video saying, "Phil, drop the gun, Phil," immediately after Seidle fired the first shots.

Several officers could be heard referring to Seidle by his first name, calling into question whether he was given preferential treatment. Many of the officers who responded to the scene were from the Asbury Park and neighboring Neptune police departments. 

It was also reported that a Neptune police officer hugged Seidle after he surrendered to authorities, which Gramiccioni said was "ill-advised" behavior.  

"With that said, the officer was brought to the scene because of his long-standing relationship with Seidle," Gramiccioni said. "It was hoped that because of that friendship, he could convince Seidle not to kill himself and surrender -- and it worked, in part."

That officer, Gramiccioni said, was not aware that Seidle had killed his ex-wife at the time, only that he was suicidal. Upon learning that information -- after Seidle surrendered -- the officer was "embarrassed" by the hug, Gramiccioni said.

"The fact that (Seidle) was a well known police officer contributed to the chaos and confusion at the scene," Gramiccioni said. 

Still, officers treated Seidle like any other person who was suicidal, Gramiccioni said.

A history of domestic incidents

Divorce filings and records previously obtained by NJ Advance Media revealed the rocky history of the couple's tumultuous 23-year marriage.

Tamara Seidle, who was shot to death, allegedly by her ex-husband, a former Neptune Township police sergeant. (Facebook)MaryAnn Spoto | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Tamara Wilson-Seidle, 51, claimed in her 2013 divorce complaint that on one occasion, Philip Seidle pointed a gun at her head and on another occasion, he kicked her in the stomach while she was pregnant. On her birthday, he gave her a black eye by punching her in the face, the complaint said.

None of these incidents of violence were reported to police, though Neptune police did respond to the Seidle's home 21 times over a 21-year period. Seven of the calls were fore child custody disputes and seven others were for basic calls of service, like reporting a car crash. 

But seven of the calls were classified as domestic incidents and they occurred over staggered periods of time. The first call came from Philip Seidle in 1994 to report Tamara Wilson-Seidle threw a chair at him. But the second domestic call doesn't come for another seven years.

"There's no method to the madness," Gramiccioni said.

The calls, however, relatively increase in frequency in 2014, with the last one happening about a little over a month before the slaying.

Philip Seidle, now 52, received a two-day suspension following an incident on Feb. 2, 2012, that led to an internal-affairs investigation by the Neptune Police Department. Tamara Wilson-Seidle had called police to report her then-husband was verbally harassing her on the phone and that when she got home, Philip Seidle was at the house and approached her in a "menacing manner," Gramiccioni said. 

Seidle did not physically abuse her on this occasion, but Tamara Seidle had told police this wasn't the first time her husband verbally abused her. When asked why she never reported it in the past, she indicated she did not want to disrupt Philip Seidle's job as a police officer, according to Gramiccioni.

Tamara Wilson-Seidle declined to file charges. However, Neptune police admitted Philip Seidle for a "fitness of duty" examination not because of his behavior toward Tamara Wilson-Seidle, but rather because he was shouting at the responding officers, Gramiccioni said. 

Suspended Neptune police Sgt. Phillip Seidle pleads guilty before Superior Court Judge Joseph Oxley in Monmouth Superior Court in Freehold on March 10, 2016. (Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

On Feb. 12, 2012, Seidle was found not fit for duty and his service weapon was taken from him. Gramiccioni said Seidle attended therapy regularly until he was re-examined on April 16, 2012, when the doctor found him fit for duty but recommended Seidle continue with counseling for at least two months.

Under Attorney General guidelines, when a weapon is taken from a law-enforcement officer -- but no criminal charges or warrants were issued -- a county prosecutor can authorize the return of seized weapons subject to conditions that the prosecutor determines necessary.

The prosecutor's officers contacted Tamara Seidle and asked her if she had any concerns with Philip Seidle's service weapon being returned.

"She expressed no such reservations or fears, and noted that she and Seidle had worked out there differences and they no longer maintained any animosity toward one another," Gramiccioni said.

Seidle's service weapon was given back to him with conditions -- he could only have it on duty, he was prohibited from having personal weapons, he needed to continue therapy and couldn't have contact with Tamara Wilson-Seidle. He was eventually fully rearmed by the prosecutor's office after the Neptune police chief indicated Seidle cooperated with the conditions, Gramiccioni said.

A second internal affairs investigation was launched "in an abundance of caution" after an incident on March 28, 2014, in which Seidle cursed at responding officers, Gramiccioni said. This time, Tamara Wilson-Seidle had indicated she wanted to file a criminal complaint against him, but she never did. Seidle was placed on administrative leave pending another fitness for duty evaluation, after which he received a 30-day suspension and had to undergo therapy for lashing out at the officers.

The only report of physical confrontation involving Philip Seidle came on Jan. 27, 2012, but it did not involve Tamara Wilson-Seidle. On that day, Philip Seidle's then-girlfriend called Tinton Falls police to report that he had had put his hands around her neck and pushed her following an argument.

Again, no charges were filed and Tinton Falls police never notified the Neptune Township Police Department of this incident -- and there was no policy requiring such notification.

"None of these matters resulted in the filing of criminal charges or the issuance of a restraining order, thus triggering mandatory disarming and notification to my office," Gramiccioni said.

Policy changes to come

Gramiccioni said the findings from the investigation would lead to multiple changes to countywide policies.

To address the lack of communication, all police departments in Monmouth County will now be retrained on the appropriate protocols and procedures in relaying information by police radio during critical incidents.

In regards to domestic incidents involving police officers, the prosecutor's office will enhance its early-warning policy. This will require mandatory reporting to the prosecutor's office of all allegations regarding officers who either committed or are victims of domestic violence, whether charges were filed or not.

If a domestic incident happens outside an officer's town of employment, that municipality will be required to report it to the officer's employer and the prosecutor's office.

The prosecutor's office will now be notified: any time an officer undergoes a fit for duty evaluation, is disarmed or receives three citizen complaints in a six-month period. It will also receive an itemized list of all materials forwarded to a physician that conducts fitness for duty evaluations for officers.

Additionally, Tinton Falls police will receive more training on domestic violence reporting and use of victim notification forms and to complete incident reports.

"While the law enforcement response to this matter had its flaws in some regard," Gramiccioni said, "none of them caused the death of Tamara Seidle. Philip Seidle did."

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.