Manasquan has one fewer police officer after a transfer was approved for one employee to Belmar.

Patrolman John Mahoney will join the Belmar Police Department after Manasquan Borough Council approved his resignation.

The departure was under good circumstances, as another opportunity presented itself, officials said.

The Manasquan Public Safety Committee, which addresses policing issues and reports to the borough council, will be discussing the matter of how to fill the vacancy and the timeline ahead, given the police academy calendar and time needed to identify and test new recruits.

With discussion of the Manasquan Police Chief Elliott Correia, public safety committee reported that the borough could see the vacancy last past August. Hiring guidelines put a start date after a batch of new recruits finishes police academy, which would be August.

The public safety committee will explore if a lateral transfer program might be beneficial in the time of the vacancy.

The vacancy was discussed at the last February borough council meeting.