Neptune Middle School Teacher Charged With Bringing Knife to Classroom

Authorities say the teacher had a large stainless-steel knife in his desk drawer.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Kevin Hasbrouck, a 36-year-old social studies teacher at Neptune Middle School, has been charged with possession of an illegal weapon after police found a large stainless-steel knife with a black handle in his desk drawer at the school. The criminal complaint states Hasbrouck had the knife out in a classroom while students were present on January 23.

Why it matters

Bringing weapons onto school grounds raises serious concerns about student and staff safety. While no students were reported to be in danger, the incident highlights the need for strict policies and procedures around weapons in educational settings.

The details

According to Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago, Hasbrouck has been charged with a fourth-degree crime for possession of an illegal weapon. The knife was discovered in his desk drawer on February 3. Neptune Township Schools Superintendent Tami Crader confirmed Hasbrouck has worked for the district for nearly 10 years and has been placed on leave, though she could not comment further on personnel matters.

  • The knife was found in Hasbrouck's desk drawer on February 3, 2026.
  • The criminal complaint states Hasbrouck had the knife out in a classroom on January 23, 2026 while students were present.

The players

Kevin Hasbrouck

A 36-year-old social studies teacher at Neptune Middle School who has been charged with possession of an illegal weapon for bringing a large stainless-steel knife with a black handle to school.

Tami Crader

The Neptune Township Schools Superintendent who confirmed Hasbrouck has worked for the district for nearly 10 years and has been placed on leave, though she could not comment further on personnel matters.

Raymond Santiago

The Monmouth County Prosecutor who announced the charges against Hasbrouck for possession of an illegal weapon, a fourth-degree crime.

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What they’re saying

“Please know that the individual had already been removed from the classroom prior to the arrest, and at no time were students in danger.”

— Tami Crader, Neptune Township Schools Superintendent (tapinto.net)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Hasbrouck to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the importance of strict policies and procedures around weapons in schools to ensure the safety of students and staff. It also raises questions about how to balance personnel privacy with the need for transparency around potential threats to school safety.