Toms River Welcomes New Officers, Honors Retiring K-9 Officer

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Police Department welcomed four new officers and promoted an officer, while also bidding farewell to a retiring officer.

Sgt. James Reilly, who has overseen the department's K-9 unit, retired along with his partner, K-9 Brutus. Reilly served in the department for 31 years.

At swearing-in ceremonies, Sgt. Sean Smith was promoted from patrol officer, and four officers took the oath administered by Mayor Maurice Hill.

Michael Gardner, Anthony Mastrandrea, and Andrew Smith, joined the department as patrol officers, and James Platten was sworn as a Class III officer.

The Toms River Police Department is taking applications until Jan. 4 for Class 1 Special Police Officers.

"Class 1 Special Police Officers are empowered to issue summonses for motor vehicle violations, local ordinance violations, petty disorderly persons violations and disorderly persons violations," the department said in a post on Facebook. Officers attend an 80-hour police academy that includes classes on criminal law, report writing, motor vehicle law, use of force, responsibility to the community, CPR, first aid, handcuffing, baton and self-defense techniques.

Class 1 Special Police Officers do not carry a firearm.

The seasonal part-time Class 1 Program consists of officers whose primary duty is high-visibility bicycle patrol during the summer months on the barrier island of Toms River.

Applications can only be submitted to the Human Resources Department at Town Hall. (NOT the PD.). There is more information available on the township website.

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