TOMS RIVER, N.J. — Lieutenant Peter Sundack has been named the new chief of police for Toms River, according to an announcement made by Mayor Dan Rodrick this week. The mayor also revealed a series of departmental promotions and the hiring of five new officers.
Sundack, a 24-year veteran of the Toms River Police Department, began his law enforcement career in 2000 after graduating from the Ocean County Police Academy. He had previously worked as an Environmental Scientist and Hazardous Materials Specialist for Cornell University Medical School and as a Safety and Security Manager for St. Peter’s University Hospital.
A graduate of East Brunswick High School and Rutgers University, where he majored in environmental science, Sundack has also been a certified Emergency Medical Technician for nearly three decades. He has served as a School Resource Officer and held various supervisory roles, including overseeing the School Resource Officer and Bicycle Units.
In addition to his service within the department, Sundack has been an instructor at the Ocean County Police Academy, teaching community relations, community policing, and communications. He also provides in-service training for the Toms River Police Department.
Sundack replaces Mitch Little, who retired last month following a controversy at a police department golf outing where another officer sexually assaulted a female officer. That officer was allegedly never disciplined or charged for the attack and the victim has filed a lawsuit against the township.
The promotions of officers comes eight months after the township hired eight Civilian Safety Officers to expand the department’s EMS services.