Acting Police Chief Named In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A month after the retirement of Toms River Police Chief Mitchell Little, his successor has been named.

Peter Sundack, who has been a lieutenant in the Toms River Police Department since 2018, has been promoted to captain and named acting police chief, Mayor Daniel Rodrick confirmed Wednesday night at the Toms River Township Council meeting.

Sundack has been the officer in charge of the department, as the officer with the most seniority, since Little's retirement on Aug. 23. He has been promoted to captain along with Lt. Guy Maire, Rodrick said Wednesday night, after Sundack's promotion was announced by Toms River Councilman Justin Lamb.

Lamb congratulated Sundack on being promoted to chief of police but made no mention of Sundack's status as acting chief. It wasn't until a member of the public raised questions about the matter, referencing township ordinances, that it was clarified that Sundack is acting police chief.

Under Toms River ordinances, the police chief must have one year as a captain to be eligible for promotion to police chief or deputy chief. The police department's three captains all retired before Little's departure in August, and none of the township's lieutenants were promoted to fill the vacancies.

Rodrick acknowledged Toms River's ordinance requiring the chief to have served as a captain for a year to be eligible to be named chief. Sundack was promoted to captain and is anticipated to serve as acting chief for the foreseeable future.

Rodrick said the township is exploring legal avenues to promote Sundack to chief immediately.