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Council debates police promotion‑list ordinance as chief warns extension would be unfair
Summary
The council considered an ordinance enabling one‑year extensions of police promotion lists; supporters said it would preserve opportunities for officers who had already taken exams, while the acting police chief and several council members argued the change would be unfair to officers now eligible to test.
The Toms River Township Council heard competing views on an ordinance (final reading) that would allow the council, by resolution, to extend a police promotion list for up to one year. Supporters said the change would prevent the town from losing the benefit of officers’ time and test preparation should a list expire when promotional slots exist.
Opponents, including Councilman Coleman and the acting police chief, said the ordinance conflates two separate issues — extending an existing list versus making promotions — and warned that an extension would prevent newly eligible officers from taking timely promotional exams. The acting chief said he does not support extending the list and emphasized fairness for officers who are waiting to take the next promotional test. "If we're extending the list, it's a totally separate issue," the acting chief said, adding that an officer could be assigned to acting roles in the short term but that extending the list would be unfair to others eligible to test.
Council discussion included concerns about staffing levels and operational impacts: some council members said the department is down officers and that delays in promotions affect morale and staffing; others emphasized procedural fairness and chain‑of‑command respect for the chief's position on the matter. After discussion and motions, the council proceeded with the ordinance procedure; several council members voted in favor while others recorded no votes or opposed, and further procedural steps will follow according to the council’s legislative calendar.
What’s next: The ordinance proceeded through final‑reading procedures during the meeting; any final adoption or implementation will be determined by subsequent formal votes and, as needed, executive action by the mayor.
Provenance: Council reading, statements by council members and acting chief recorded Jan. 7, 2026.
