TOMS RIVER – Police Chief Mitch Little’s last day in the department is this Friday. His retirement hit social media to an outpouring of well-wishing from residents.
In a letter to the department which was then leaked to the Jersey Coast Emergency News page on Facebook, he said “After 39 years and 11 as Chief, I knew this time would eventually come when I have done everything I could for the agency and my presence would actually be a detriment and prevent any movement with hires, promotions and even equipment. It is with a heavy heart and much soul searching that I have decided to retire effective next Friday, August 23 in the hopes promotions will be made, new officers hired and you can get what you need to move forward. We’ve been through this before and we’ll get through it again in time. I truly believe that. I will remain on the foundation and do whatever I can to help.”
He said he would be available to meet with officers to answer any questions they might have. “As always, thank you all for the incredible job you do, your friendship and support over the years. You are an amazing group of people doing extraordinary things and I have been honored to work with each and every one of you. You have all made this organization and town a better place,” he said.
He and Mayor Daniel Rodrick disagreed on a few issues throughout the first eight months of the mayor’s term. The most public one involved personnel.
Two captains retired this year. Instead of refilling these positions by promoting from within, Mayor Rodrick chose to cut those two positions, in a move he said would save the town $700,000. He wanted to use that money to hire EMS members.
Petitioners had collected thousands of signatures urging the council to change their minds and reinstate those two positions.
However, Rodrick made the change administratively, so even though the ordinance changing the police administration got rescinded, the change still went through.
In April, Rodrick suspended the chief for two days. Neither party commented about the cause since it was a personnel matter.
Little didn’t return a call for comment for this article.
“We appreciate and thank him for 39 years of service to the town,” Rodrick said.
The mayor disputed the chief’s statement that promotions were a reason for his departure.
“We were always willing to do promotions – except for the two captains,” Rodrick said. “His departure was to avoid discipline which we can not discuss.”
Rodrick said that he will begin interviews for Little’s replacement.
