Post by admin on May 11, 2007 15:50:17 GMT -5
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New chief takes over in Freehold
Says key task will be building relationships within community
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 05/11/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
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FREEHOLD — Pictures, plaques and awards still hang on the walls of Mitch Roth's old office inside the Freehold Police Department.
The former captain has been chief of the department for only four days and hasn't yet moved all his things into his new office down the hall. This one is bigger, more suite-like, and comes with windows and a secretary.
While the move to his new digs will be mundane, and not at all challenging, there is one task facing the department that Roth stressed must be done.
"We need to build harmonious, sustainable relationships among all the different factions within Freehold Borough," said Roth, 46, who was sworn in as chief at a Borough Council meeting Monday. "We need to create a level of understanding among the community and the Police Department that will allow us to create a better, safer community."
Roth has 23 years of experience as a police officer.
He joined the department in August 1983 and worked his way up the ranks. He was promoted to sergeant in 1994, lieutenant in 2000 and captain in August. He was named officer in charge in March after the retirement of former Police Chief Michael Beierschmitt, who served in the department for nearly 28 years and had been at its helm since 2000.
Roth's academic background includes an undergraduate degree in sociology and criminal justice from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, a master's degree in human resources training and development from Seton Hall University in South Orange and many professional development conferences and workshops, including a Northwestern University Police School program at Fort Dix and one at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.
It was at FBI headquarters, among law enforcement professionals from all over the country and the world, that Roth was voted by his peers to receive the Excellence in Leadership Award.
"Hopefully, I can carry some of that over into this position," said Roth, adding that it was terrific to go to the course, get such a prestigious award and gain the respect of his peers.
Roth also has been influenced by the people with whom he has worked during his career, people he said are brilliant, both intellectually and tactically. He said they have made him a better communicator and a better investigator.
"He's proven to the governing body that he's shown real leadership, and we feel very strongly that he'll be a strong leader for the department," Mayor Michael Wilson said.
Roth said he leads by example, sets the tone and consults a lot with department commanders and patrol officers in the field. He said he wants the men and women in the department to feel they are stakeholders and wants the public always to feel free to call him.
He said his line of work is a customer service occupation, and if the needs of the residents and visitors to the community are not satisfied, they will leave.
"We need to engage the community, and that's incumbent on us to do initially through face-to-face contact," he said. "We need to be proactively interactive."
Roth, who lives in Freehold Township, is married with two boys who play baseball in the Freehold Township Little League and on traveling teams. Roth coaches his boys, who play on a total of four teams.
He transfers his coaching philosophy over to his job. He said if an event is a success, everyone gets the credit. But, "if we misstep, that's on me."
The Police Department has 34 full-time and two part-time officers, 10 crossing guards, two substitute crossing guards and eight civilian staff members. The borough finance office reported that Roth's current salary is $121,162 but could not say Thursday what he will make in his new post.
Nick Petruncio: (732) 308-7752 or npetruncio@app.com
New chief takes over in Freehold
Says key task will be building relationships within community
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 05/11/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
Post Comment
FREEHOLD — Pictures, plaques and awards still hang on the walls of Mitch Roth's old office inside the Freehold Police Department.
The former captain has been chief of the department for only four days and hasn't yet moved all his things into his new office down the hall. This one is bigger, more suite-like, and comes with windows and a secretary.
While the move to his new digs will be mundane, and not at all challenging, there is one task facing the department that Roth stressed must be done.
"We need to build harmonious, sustainable relationships among all the different factions within Freehold Borough," said Roth, 46, who was sworn in as chief at a Borough Council meeting Monday. "We need to create a level of understanding among the community and the Police Department that will allow us to create a better, safer community."
Roth has 23 years of experience as a police officer.
He joined the department in August 1983 and worked his way up the ranks. He was promoted to sergeant in 1994, lieutenant in 2000 and captain in August. He was named officer in charge in March after the retirement of former Police Chief Michael Beierschmitt, who served in the department for nearly 28 years and had been at its helm since 2000.
Roth's academic background includes an undergraduate degree in sociology and criminal justice from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, a master's degree in human resources training and development from Seton Hall University in South Orange and many professional development conferences and workshops, including a Northwestern University Police School program at Fort Dix and one at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.
It was at FBI headquarters, among law enforcement professionals from all over the country and the world, that Roth was voted by his peers to receive the Excellence in Leadership Award.
"Hopefully, I can carry some of that over into this position," said Roth, adding that it was terrific to go to the course, get such a prestigious award and gain the respect of his peers.
Roth also has been influenced by the people with whom he has worked during his career, people he said are brilliant, both intellectually and tactically. He said they have made him a better communicator and a better investigator.
"He's proven to the governing body that he's shown real leadership, and we feel very strongly that he'll be a strong leader for the department," Mayor Michael Wilson said.
Roth said he leads by example, sets the tone and consults a lot with department commanders and patrol officers in the field. He said he wants the men and women in the department to feel they are stakeholders and wants the public always to feel free to call him.
He said his line of work is a customer service occupation, and if the needs of the residents and visitors to the community are not satisfied, they will leave.
"We need to engage the community, and that's incumbent on us to do initially through face-to-face contact," he said. "We need to be proactively interactive."
Roth, who lives in Freehold Township, is married with two boys who play baseball in the Freehold Township Little League and on traveling teams. Roth coaches his boys, who play on a total of four teams.
He transfers his coaching philosophy over to his job. He said if an event is a success, everyone gets the credit. But, "if we misstep, that's on me."
The Police Department has 34 full-time and two part-time officers, 10 crossing guards, two substitute crossing guards and eight civilian staff members. The borough finance office reported that Roth's current salary is $121,162 but could not say Thursday what he will make in his new post.
Nick Petruncio: (732) 308-7752 or npetruncio@app.com
