SOUTH TOMS RIVER – The leadership of the South Toms River Police Department recently changed, but the goal of community policing has not changed.
Retired Chief William Kosh and new Chief Michael Schneidt met with The Berkeley Times to discuss the transition and the expectations of district residents.
Kosh said he focused on spending time with his family while working part-time as a security guard.
“Law enforcement is one of my passions, but because we have the right people, it was a good time to step down,” he said.
Schneidt said they had been preparing for the transition for some time. “Whether I knew it or not, he had been preparing me for this for three years.”
Communication is key, Kosh said, when it comes to community policing. That means bridging the gap between schools, neighborhood watch groups and others. It means reaching out to all the people who have a vested interest in the small town and finding out what their concerns are.
Schneidt said they are constantly working to make police officers more accessible. It is essential to have a police officer in schools because they provide a positive role model during the years when children are faced with many decisions.
When asked if cannabis retail has an impact on crime in the area, Kosh said that while it has brought more traffic to town, there have been no safety issues. Cannabis retail does not have as big an impact on the community as, say, alcohol.
Kosh said he was proud of a number of things during his tenure, such as achieving accreditation from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, a tedious process that proves the department follows the best practices in law enforcement. During his time as head of the department, he also established the K-9 program.
An employee assistance program has been created that makes crisis intervention available to any county employee – not just police – and On Point social workers are available one day a week to meet resident and community needs in areas such as substance abuse or homelessness.
If necessary, transfers will be made and police can make follow-up calls to make sure people are OK, Schneidt said. “People appreciate having someone listening to them and taking care of them.”
In this context, it is important that officers continue to do community policing, getting out of their cars and talking to residents. “People will remember positive encounters,” he said.
