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Council holds contentious first reading on new police hiring guidelines; critics say standards are lowered
Summary
The Toms River council held a first reading of an ordinance to amend police hiring rules to make it easier for veterans and lateral transfers to join the department. Some council members and residents warned the changes lower standards; the administration said the measures expand the candidate pool amid statewide recruiting shortages.
The Toms River Township Council conducted a heated first reading of an ordinance amending chapter 50 (Department of Law Enforcement) to establish new guidelines for hiring police officers.
The proposed changes, discussed at length at first reading, were described by the administration as intended to broaden the hiring pool by allowing veterans with two years of military service and lateral hires (already-certified officers from other municipalities) to be eligible under streamlined procedures. The mayor and administration speakers said those changes would speed hires and…
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