About Our Staff
Lt. John Tate began his law enforcement career in Seaside Heights as a Special Police Officer in May of 1978. In September of 1980, he was made provisional and completed the Ocean County Police Academy in April of 1981. Lt. Tate was made Sergeant in May of 1984 and Lieutenant February of 1996. Winner of numerous awards during his tenure at Seaside Heights, including Ocean County Emeralds Society Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 1997 and a Meritorious Proclamation from the State Senate and Assembly in 1997 for his part in a cold case homicide investigation from 1968. He also is a two time winner of the Princeton State PBA Bench press championship with his best lift at 430 pounds. Lt. Tate retired from Seaside Heights in November of 2003.
Lt. Tate then accepted the position of Recruit Training Coordinator at the Ocean County Police Academy July of 2005. Lt. Tate still holds this position and has graduated recruits from across the state of New Jersey.
Lt. Tate is a graduate of North Bergen High School in 1974. After high school, Lt. Tate attended Kean University for two years, before moving to Toms River, New Jersey. Lt. Tate received his Associates Degree in Social Science from Ocean County College in Toms River, New Jersey and then his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science from Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, New Jersey. Lt. Tate has completed his Masters in Justice Administration from the University of the Cumberland’s in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
Lt. Tate is married to his wife Donna for 40 years and has three adult children, with his son Jesse also in law enforcement with Manchester Township. He also has his first granddaughter on the way. He and his wife currently reside in Manchester, New Jersey.
*As of January 22, 2024, Lt. Tate is the Academy’s Acting Director.
Chief William J. Dikun began his law enforcement career as a Special Police Officer with the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department in May of 1976. In November of 1977, he was sworn in as a Patrolman with the Little Egg Harbor Police Department. He subsequently commenced training at the Ocean County Police Academy, as a member of Class 31, which graduated in May 1978. On June 1, 1978, he changed venues and accepted a position as a County Investigator with the Ocean County Prosecutors Office. While at the Prosecutor’s Office, Chief Dikun was assigned to the Grand Jury Unit, Polygraph Unit and the Special Investigations Unit, which is now the Special Operations Group.
On June 1, 1980 Chief Dikun accepted a position as a Patrolman with the Bay Head Police Department. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1992, Lieutenant in 1995 and subsequently Chief of Police in 1998. He retired from sworn law enforcement service on January 1, 2005 and accepted the position as Chief Police Instructor at the Ocean County Police Academy.
Chief Dikun is a 1972 graduate of Point Pleasant Boro High School. He has attained a Master of Administrative Science Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Bachelor of Arts Degree from Rowan University and Associate in Arts and Science Degrees from Ocean County College. During his tenure he attended various Federal, State and County in-service courses of instruction and is a graduate of the 188th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA.
He retired 2014 as a Master Chief Petty Officer in the United States Coast Guard Reserve with over 28 years of service. Chief Dikun is a veteran of Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He remains active in his community as a member of Point Pleasant Borough Fire Department, VFW Post 4715, BPOE 1698 and Durand Masonic Lodge 179.
Michael E. Caputo is a first generation Law Enforcement Officer and a retired Chief of Police. He grew up in the Borough of Seaside Heights and is a proud graduate of Central Regional High School Class of 1976. In 2013 he was inductee into the M. Perl King Distinguished Alumni at Central Regional.
Chief Caputo began his Law Enforcement career in June of 1981 as a Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II, for the Seaside Heights Police Department. In December of 1983 he was appointed as a full time Patrolman with the Barnegat Township Police Department and entered the Ocean County Police Academy, as a part of Class No. 43, which graduated November 16, 1984.
He was later hired, in the Borough of Tuckerton, as a Patrolman in June 1987. He was subsequently promoted to Sergeant in 1998 and Lieutenant in 2003. Finally in 2010, he realized a lifelong goal, when he was appointed to the position of Chief of Police. He retired on August 1, 2017 after 34 years of service.
Chief Caputo has been an instructor with the Ocean County Police Academy since 1990. He is a graduate of the West Point Command and Leadership School and is a former President (2016) of the Ocean County Police Chief’s Association and remains active within its ranks.
Chief Caputo is married 25 years to his wife Peggy and is the proud father of four children. He also is a grandfather to four grandsons and two granddaughters.