Hazlet Police Chief Retires, Is Honored For Creative Initiatives

HAZLET, NJ — Hazlet Police Chief Ted A. Wittke has retired after 25 years of "unwavering commitment," the department said.

On Thursday, the department came out in force to celebrate his tenure:

"Join us in thanking Chief Wittke for his exceptional leadership, tireless service, and profound impact on our community. Your legacy will continue to inspire us," the department said.

You can see many photos of the event here.

There will be a meeting of the Township Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 6, to honor Wittke and two other retiring members of the force, and to appoint current Deputy Chief Robert M. Mulligan to the position of police chief. Kevin Geoghan will be appointed to the position of deputy chief.

You can see a full list of department staff appointments on the agenda, here.

The committee will also recognize retiring officers Lt. Scott D. Randolph for his 24 1/2 years with the department and Lt. Christopher Acevedo upon his retirement after 22 years with the department. Both have 25 years overall service in law enforcement.

Wittke joined the force in 1999 as a patrol officer, earning numerous commendations during his 13 years in this role.

In 2012, he was promoted to patrol sergeant, where he initiated the department's first field training program. The initiative not only provided comprehensive training for officers but also became his inspiration for developing a field training program for new supervisors years later, the department said.

Wittke's "commitment to developing a skilled and well-prepared leadership team was evident in this forward-thinking approach," the department said in a social media post.

Wittke's responsibilities increased to detective lieutenant in 2014, deputy chief in 2016 until he became chief in 2020.

Among the milestones of his tenure were:

• Building a diverse team and promoting the first female Hazlet officer to the rank of sergeant.
• Adding School Security Officers, annual security assessments, and hosting a full-scale active threat coordination exercise in 2021 in which he served as the incident commander, directing hundreds of first responders.
• Wittke appointed the department's first formal police chaplain, assisting residents and police officers during crises.
• He led the department through the COVID crisis.
• He helped launch the Hazlet ASSIST program in collaboration with Hazlet’s Hope Network to support people with substance addiction.
• Just last year, the department launched its Home Security Assessment Program. In this initiative, Wittke deployed 20 trained officers into neighborhoods to provide residential security assessments to Hazlet's residents. Hundreds of assessments have been completed, aiding crime deterrence.
• Wittke pioneered the Hazlet Youth Police Academy and he introduced the Baseball Card Program, fostering good relations between officers and children in the community.
• The department established the Special Needs Open House, a first-of-its-kind event in New Jersey. This annual gathering provided residents with special needs an opportunity to meet officers under non-emergency circumstances, fostering understanding and offering valuable resources.
• Wittke supported sustainability, spearheading the transition to hybrid technology for the majority of the fleet vehicles, contributing not only to environmental conservation but also saving the Township hundreds of thousands of dollars in fuel costs.
• He was proactive in efforts to secure public safety grants to support programs and save money for taxpayers.
• He encouraged department transparency through annual reports.
• The department developed its first website under his tenure, the department said, along with online resources for the public - plus setting up a social media presence with 15,000 followers.