TOMS RIVER, NJ—The Toms River Jewish Community Council issued a statement this week regarding the retirement of Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little. The TRJCC represents the interests of the town’s growing Orthodox Jewish community, and when many shunned their new neighbors in town, Little has been steadfast in his support of the growing community since the early days.
Little was credited with leading the Toms River United initiative, which aimed to bring the Orthodox Jewish community closer to the secular gentile community.
“The Toms River Jewish Community Council wishes to express our deepest gratitude to Chief Mitch Little for his unwavering dedication and service to the Toms River community. Throughout his tenure, Chief Little has been a true leader, exemplifying the values of unity, safety, and mutual respect that are the cornerstones of a strong and vibrant community,” the Toms River Jewish Community Council said in a statement. “Chief Little’s leadership of the Toms River UNITED initiative—Uniting Neighbors in Town Everyday—has profoundly impacted our town. His commitment to bringing people together, fostering understanding, and building connections among residents has strengthened the fabric of our community. This initiative was not just about promoting togetherness; it was about ensuring that every community member felt valued, respected, and safe.”
Over the past few months, Little has been embroiled a battle with Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick over allocating police department resources from high-ranking desk job type positions to fund the department’s Emergency Medical Services component.
His retirement announcement comes as the township recently alleged financial misappropriation charges against the Silverton EMS, led by former Toms River Councilman Kevin Geoghegan, a former Toms River police officer. Geoghegan repeatedly maintained his innocence but chose to shut down his EMS service in light of the allegations.
In his retirement letter, Little expressed optimism that his departure would improve relations between the mayor and the office of the police chief.
It was Little who instituted a policy to have police officers check the homes of Jewish families in town during their religious holidays and their vacations.
Over the past year, many home invasions and burglaries were committed against the Orthodox Jewish community. While many of those crimes have gone unsolved, Little offered the community tremendous support during that time.
“Chief Little has consistently demonstrated his dedication to our community by being present at our events and attentive to our needs, ensuring that Toms River remains a place where everyone can thrive,” said TRJCC leader Shmuel ‘Sam’ Ellenbogen, who the Ocean County GOP is currently grooming to replace Ocean County Commissioner Virginia Haines in 2025.
“The TRJCC is proud to have had Chief Little as a leader whose efforts have made a lasting difference in our community. We are deeply appreciative of his selfless years of outstanding service as our police chief,” said Booky Kaluszyner in a joint statement. “Chief, your leadership has truly made an everlasting difference, and we will always be indebted for your service and your friendship.”
