OCEAN COUNTY – New Jersey law enforcement agencies will conduct a coordinated “Goal: Zero” traffic enforcement detail November 26 in memory of Ocean Gate Patrolman Jason “Jay” Marles, who was killed by a drunk driver in November 2010.
Marles had just finished a drunk driving patrol on Thanksgiving Eve 2010 when he was struck on the Garden State Parkway while driving home to his family. The 32-year-old officer, remembered as a devoted husband, father and colleague, is being honored through a statewide safety effort aimed at preventing similar tragedies.
The enforcement detail will run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., coinciding with one of the busiest and most hazardous travel periods of the year. Officials say the operation is intended to curb impaired driving, aggressive behavior and serious crashes, which historically increase on the night before Thanksgiving.
State data show 517 people have been killed on New Jersey roadways so far in 2025, including 54 fatalities in Ocean County and 41 in Middlesex County — the highest totals in the state.
During the four-hour effort, police departments across New Jersey will deploy officers with a shared goal of reducing deaths and serious injuries to zero. The Goal: Zero initiative began in 2024, launched by Holmdel Patrolman Matt Menosky, and initially included 36 municipalities working together to address rising traffic deaths.
The program’s bright green logo symbolizes visibility and pedestrian safety, while a black mourning band incorporated into the design serves as a tribute to lives lost in crashes.
This year’s detail is dedicated to Marles, whose commitment to roadway safety continues to resonate within the law enforcement community.
