Toms River Police Push Back As Mayor Declares Cuts Final

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick says the fight over a controversial police staffing ordinance is over because he has eliminated two captains' positions from the Toms River Police Department, which he says is within his authority as mayor.

Opponents of the cuts are not backing down, however, saying they undermine the police department even as it faces increasing calls for service.

In response to letters and statements from Rodrick in the three weeks since the introduction of an ordinance that would eliminate the two captains' positions, a patrol officer and the media relations position, the Toms River Police Benevolent Association and the Fraternal Order of Police — the unions that represent the sworn officers in the police department — issued a letter rebutting his statements.

"Regardless of rank, title or union affiliation your governing body is looking to eliminate 3 police officers from your police department," the letter, posted on the PBA website, says. "Regardless of job assignment, that eliminates 3 police officers that serve you as residents and minimizes the effectiveness and efficiency of The Toms River Police Department."

Rodrick has labeled the captains' positions desk jobs and has repeatedly criticized the salaries and benefits of the command staff, in statements and in a letter mailed to Toms River residents in late January.

He has insisted the estimated $700,000 from the salaries and benefits from two retiring captains is needed to fund the hiring of eight EMTs to address instances where residents have waited 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive.

"What you have not been told is that the average response time for an ambulance in 2023 was 7.9 minutes, the average response time for a police officer response to a first aid call was 6.7 minutes," the police letter said.

The Toms River Police Department answered 71,868 calls for service in 2023, an average of almost 197 calls per day.

The department has three shifts that are 11 hours each and the shifts overlap, with a five-hour overlap from the day shift to the evening shift to provide additional coverage during the afternoon through early evening, when call volume is highest. There are 26 to 30 officers working each shift, according to police department records.

"Police officers are highly trained first responders who can provide a multitude of services including basic first aid, administering oxygen, performing CPR and rescue breathing, the application of a defibrillator, performing the Heimlich maneuver on a choking victim, performing bleeding control, the application of a tourniquet, reversing an overdose with lifesaving Narcan — and as we have seen recently, even delivering a baby," the police letter said.

The Township Council is set to meet at 2 p.m. Wednesday to vote on the ordinance that would eliminate the two captains' positions, a patrol officer and the media relations position — along with voting on six other ordinances.

A rally is set for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Town Hall, 33 Washington St., before the council meeting. Opponents of the cuts are gathering signatures on a recall petition that, if successful, would force the council to rescind the ordinance or put the question to the town's voters.

Rodrick says a vote on the police staffing ordinance is not necessary, because he has eliminated the captains' positions by executive order.

"We are meeting with the EMT union this week to discuss opening up their contract so we can attract the best EMTs to work for our town," Rodrick said last week. "The fight is over and the administration is moving forward."

"He is not getting his captains back," Rodrick said, referring to Police Chief Mitch Little.

Rodrick has insisted the removal of the captains and the other two positions are not cutting the police department, as the EMTs are supervised by the police department. He also has pointed to the hiring of seven Class I special law enforcement officers as increasing staffing, but Class I SLEOs do not carry firearms, do not have arrest powers and are not used to patrol the town. Class I officers assist with traffic control at events, assist with the municipal jail and other duties.

"While we are in complete agreement that our paid ambulance services are vital to the community, these 8 additional employees again do not, and cannot, replace police officers," the police unions' letter said. "An additional ambulance to serve the community does not replace police assistance to our residents. An ambulance does not respond to 'Police' calls for service in any capacity."