Toms River Police Chief Maire Set To Retire

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River Police Chief Guy Maire will be retiring Jan. 1, Mayor Daniel Rodrick said Thursday, outlined the steps the township will take for the future of the department.

Maire, 59, is retiring from the department after 35 years of service, Rodrick said.

"Chief Maire has dedicated 35 years of his life to protecting and serving the people of Toms River," Rodrick said. "He lives in this community, he knows this community, and he has spent his career working to make it a safer place. I am personally grateful for his service, his leadership, and the tremendous contributions he has made to our police department."

Maire becomes the third chief to depart since Rodrick took office. Maire was a lieutenant under then-chief Mitch Little. Little retired in August 2024 amid ongoing conflicts with Rodrick. Maire was promoted to captain in September 2024 and was appointed chief in April after the departure of Peter Sundack, who was appointed chief at the same time Maire was promoted to captain.

Rodrick said the township will use the next three months to "to evaluate qualified personnel and establish a stable leadership structure for the department."

"We have a talented group of officers within the Toms River Police Department, and we intend to give them a fair opportunity to advance," Rodrick said. "We will interview our lieutenants for promotion to captain, and we will also interview eligible sergeants for promotion to lieutenant."

Maire's retirement announcement comes just shy of three months since he returned from a medical leave that began in June and lasted until mid-July. At the time,sources told Patch Maire was not planning to return, but Rodrick insisted the chief was not leaving.

With Maire departing, Rodrick said the department does not have an officer who has two years of service as a captain to be appointed chief.

"Because no current officer has accumulated the required two years of service as captain, we will need aan interim leadership arrangement while our newly promoted captains gain the necessary experience," Rodrick said.

The chief's retirement also comes just after the department hired eight new patrol officers, who were sworn in at the Sept. 23 Township Council meeting.

Rodrick has said the township will be hiring three more officers to bring the patrol staffing to 98, and said he is committed to "giving our officers the equipment, resources, and manpower they need to keep Toms River safe."

The department had 163 sworn officers when Rodrick became mayor, a number that was already below the 173 officers a 2004 study said was what the township needed to police what was then 90,000 residents.

Retirements and departures, however, had reduced the number of sworn officers to 144 as of January, when Rodrick and the Township Council battled over the department's promotion lists for the command staff.

Rodrick ultimately vetoed an ordinance the council passed that would have extended the expiration of a promotion list for sergeants in January, insisting it was unfair to other officers who were eligible for consideration.

In announcing Maire's retirement, he said the township will evaluate candidates and make appropriate promotions, and determine who will serve as officer in charge or acting chief.

"Our goal is to provide continuity, maintain strong police leadership, and develop the next generation of command officers," he said, adding the succession process "will be deliberate and focused on the long-term interests of the police department and township residents."

"We are not going to rush such an important decision. We have an opportunity to build a strong leadership team that will serve Toms River for years to come," he said.

"I want to sincerely thank Chief Guy Maire for his 35 years of service, his dedication to our residents, and everything he has accomplished for this department," Rodrick said. "It has been a pleasure working with him. On behalf of my administration and the people of Toms River, I wish Guy and his family good health, happiness, and many wonderful years together in retirement. He has earned it."