Toms River Council Meeting

By Gary Beeg – OCSN31
2/12/19

  Mayor Thomas Kelaher and the Toms River Council swore in 5 new Toms River Police Department members on Feb., 12.

  Eagle Scouts of Troop 29 were also honored for attaining the highest rank possible based on individual contributions to their town. Kelaher awarded the 5 Scouts with the Township of Toms River Proclamation.

  The Council also voted on the Code Blue Plan, which is a plan for warming centers throughout Toms River passed into law in 2017. Initially, the temperature had to dip below 32 degrees with precipitation or 25 degrees with no precipitation. The threshold of 32 was voted upon to authorize the Chief of Police to declare a Code Blue event when the temperature is 35 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, regardless of precipitation. The Council was a vote shy as only four members were present. Kelaher used his executive mayoral powers to put the Plan into action effective immediately, ignoring the twenty day period that the Plan would have to wait to pass.

  Officer Anthony Carafa, Badge #436, began his law enforcement career as a dispatcher for the Allenhurst Police Department. He went on to attend the Ocean County Police Academy and continued serving the Allenhurst Police Department as an officer. During his service in Allenhurst, Carafa started the K-9 Unit for their department.

  Officer Brendan Hirtes, Badge #437, attended Kean University and graduated cum laude with a degree in Criminal Justice in May 2013. Hirtes interned for the United States Department of Defense as well as the United States Department of State. Hirtes explored numerous opportunities as a Special Officer with the Borough of Lavallette and Deal.

  Officer Brittany Catalano, Badge #438, participated in the Police Unity Tour and was hired by the Cherry Hill Police Department as a full time police officer in July 2016 and attended the Gloucester Police Academy. Catalano had the opportunity to become the department’s Domestic Violence Liaison, a certified PT Instructor and the Captain of the department’s first Police Unity Tour team.

  Officer Sean Ryan, Badge #439, graduated with honors and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. Ryan began working as a behavioral health technician at Carrier Clinic and was offered a role as a Crisis Intervention Specialist. Ryan was responsible for de-escalating emotionally disturbed patients as well as training staff in verbal and physical de-escalation techniques. In April 2016, Ryan became a Class I Officer with the Lavallette Police Department and was selected to attend the Ocean County Police Academy that same year. Ryan continued his law enforcement career with the Lavallette Police Department as a Class II Officer and Dispatcher.

  Officer Michael Hader, Badge #440, graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. While enrolled at Rowan, Hader began employment with the Seaside Park Police Department as a Special Police Officer. In May 2015, Hader graduated from the Ocean County Police Academy as a Special Law Enforcement Officer II. He became a full time police officer with the Pemberton Borough Police Department in 2016. Hader received several certifications including Basic Crash Investigations, Advanced Crash Investigations, DWI Detection and Standard Field Sobriety Testing, Criminal Investigations, Comprehensive Interview Techniques, and Field Training Officer. He also a certification as a Level I/II firefighter from the Toms River Fire Training Center.