Toms River Police Chief Retiring After Ongoing Fight With Mayor

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River Police Chief Mitchell Little has decided to retire, according to a message he sent to the police department on Friday.

Little's last day, after a 39-year career, is set for Friday, Aug. 23, according to the message, which was shared on Facebook by Jersey Coast Emergency News.

Little, reached by phone Friday night, confirmed the authenticity of the message but declined to comment.

"TRPD family, 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," the message said. "It is with a heavy heart and much soul searching that I have decided to retire effective next Friday August 23rd 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," Little wrote.

"As always, thank you all for the incredible job you do, your friendship and support over the years," Little wrote. "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."

Little's retirement announcement comes after more than eight months of tumult and conflict since Mayor Dan Rodrick took office on Jan. 1, starting with Rodrick's decision to cut two captains' positions from the department's roster.

Little pushed back on claims Rodrick made about the department's command staff structure, sayind the captains' positions are necessary. Toms River Police Chief Refutes Mayor's Claims On Police Staffing

Rodrick repeatedly criticized salarites paid to the captains' positions, labeling them desk jobs, and has been critical of the salaries of the command staff, in statements and in a letter mailed to Toms River residents in late January.

He insisted on the cuts to use the salaries to cover the costs of hiring new EMTs to staff additional ambulances in Toms River and provide ambulance coverage for the barrier island portions of the township.

Rodrick, at the time of the cuts, said Little and the third captain, Deputy Chief Patrick Dellane, could handle the supervisory duties that had been assigned to the two captains' positions. In spite of a successful petition to recall an ordinance cutting the positions from the roster, Rodrick declared the captains' posts would not be filled.

That wasn't the only conflict. In April, Rodrick and business administrator Jon Salonis suspended Little for two days over what sources told Patch was an administrative issue. Neither Rodrick nor Little commented on the matter at the time.

It's not immediately clear who will lead the department when Little's retirement becomes official on Aug. 23. Dellane, the deputy chief, retired from his position on July 31.

Lt. Scott Moeller served as the person in command when Little was suspended because Dellane was out on leave. In April, Rodrick said Lt. Peter Sundack would be in charge during the suspension because he is the senior officer. On Sunday, Aug. 25, Rodrick said in a text message that Little put Moeller in charge during the suspension.

It's unclear who might be Little's successor.

Little, who was hired by the department in 1986, will be honored on his last day with a walk-out ceremony at 4:30 p.m. outside the police department.

Note: This article has been updated to correct information regarding who led the police department during Little's suspension, based on updated information provided by Mayor Rodrick.