Captain Shawn Gilkison’s meteoric rise through the ranks of the Union Beach Police Department is a testament to his relentless drive, tactical expertise, and transformative leadership. Inspired to join policing when a captain visited his high school the day after 9/11, Captain Gilkison entered community college and the police academy after completing high school.  

Just one year into his patrol career, Captain Gilkison was selected for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, where he played a pivotal role in dismantling some of New Jersey’s largest narcotics rings. His success led to his recruitment by the FBI’s Jersey Shore Gang and Criminal Enterprise Task Force, where he served as a task force officer and case agent for over three years, earning multiple state and federal commendations. 

Upon returning to Union Beach, Captain Gilkison quickly ascended to his current rank, becoming the youngest captain in the department’s history, and set out to reshape the department’s culture. He revitalized the agency’s dormant L.E.A.D. program, launched new initiatives like No Shave November fundraisers, and introduced a powerful set of core values—Trust, Belief, and Accountability—that now define the department’s ethos, rejuvenating morale and inspiring his peers to be better officers and better people.  

With accolades including multiple narcotics enforcement awards, a NJ State Senate Resolution, and a seat on the board of directors for the NJ Narcotic’s Enforcement Officers Association, Captain Gilkison is poised to become the youngest chief in Monmouth County in 2026. 

“If I can inspire just one officer or one kid in our town to believe in something bigger, then I’ve done my job.”