By Chris Lundy and Bob Vosseller
TOMS RIVER – Chief Mitch Little came to work at the township police department this misty rainy morning, but it felt more like a homecoming with his mother, stepfather and many residents and supporters who cheered him on as he entered the building.
The occasion marked his return following a two-day unspecified administrative suspension by Mayor Dan Rodrick earlier in the week.
“We don’t comment on employee matters,” Rodrick told The Toms River Times and other news agencies. The Chief reached via social media, replied “It’s a personnel matter and I am not at liberty to discuss it.”
The rally held on the morning of April 18 featured signs, T-shirts of support for the township police department and an outpouring of warmth for Little denouncing the action taken by the mayor and the town administration.
“I’m glad we are here to support him. I am very proud of my son. He is in a great job and I know a lot of people appreciate him,” his mother Virginia Elliss said.
Little’s stepfather Jim Elliss remarked, “I’m glad he’s coming back and I think he’s had a rotten time with what happened to him. He’s done a great job.”
Tom King was also among the early arrivals at the welcome back rally. “I’m here to support Mitch. I’ve known him for about 40 years. Having been a police officer in Seaside Heights a long, long time ago, you need a chief and captain and everybody to support your guys. They teach the younger ones all about being a police officer.”
“He does a phenomenal job. I’m not happy with everything else going on right now,” King added.
Resident Ann Landolsi was there carrying a support sign. “We love our Chief Little. This mayor is unbelievably poisonous to this town. He needs to go. That is all I have to say and that is being kind.”
“At one meeting Councilman (James) Quinlisk made the comment ‘if you tell a lie enough it becomes the truth’ and at the April 11 meeting Rodrick threw those words back. I was thinking he (Rodrick) is a liar and now he’s a thief because he stole those words that were given before. It is unbelievable,” Liz Dorick said. She was there to support Little’s return and denounce the chaos she has witnessed at recent council meetings.
Councilman Quinlisk was also present at the rally said “This is about welcoming the chief back in where he belongs. He does a hell of a job. He has a long career serving this community and I think what the mayor is trying to do to him is unjust.”
“This is absolutely ridiculous. He (Little) has given more to this town then the mayor has given ever,” Councilman Quinlisk.
When the chief arrived, he put out his hands to give a high five to those standing on both lines of the sidewalk entranceway to the door of the police station. “Thank you. No Republican, no Democrat, no black, white we are all just one, right” the chief said to cheers by those assembled.
The lineup of a large welcome back rally for Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little started with a few people braving the rainy weather and included is mother and stepfather Virginia and Jim Elliss. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
“Keep it up,” was the response from the crowd as they applauded the chief. He hugged and kissed his mother as he walked to the door.
Chief Little told The Toms River Times, “this was amazing. I never expected this but it was very nice.”
This rally follows a tumultuous year between the mayor and chief. The most public issue has been when the mayor chose not to refill two captains’ positions.
Two captains were retiring this year. By not promoting to fill those spots, Rodrick said the savings were about $700,000. This money could then be used to staff an ambulance on the barrier island 24-7, 365 days a year.
The chief has never commented about the captains to this newspaper. At one time, he was going to speak at a Township Council meeting, but he was not given the time to do so by Council President Craig Coleman.
Residents, however, have been speaking out in favor of the police and against the cuts, which also included the police department’s former public information officer Jillian Messina who was present at today’s rally.
Recently, residents have spoken about crime in town, such as catalytic converter thefts. While the two captains aren’t in a position to go on patrols, the organization of the department on top will impact everyone down the line.
Two thefts recently occurred overnight on Fischer Boulevard, for example. According to police, the unknown suspect(s) smashed the front window of Breaking Bread with a brick and removed a safe containing cash. At New York Water Bagel, their front window was smashed with a paver brick and cash was stolen from inside the store.
Residents, supporters, friends and relatives came out to welcome Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little back to work after a two-day suspension imposed by Township Mayor Dan Rodrick. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
Chris Raimann, a former Board of Education member who worked in law enforcement, said during a Township Council meeting that the council members’ opinions on the cuts might change if their house was targeted by burglars.
“If the chief or assistant chief said to cut (positions), I’d listen to it,” he said, not the mayor, whose day job is as a teacher.
Coleman and Councilwoman Lynn O’Toole said they took issue with the characterization that they were defunding the police. O’Toole told a story about a meeting at the Senior Center when residents were upset about their taxes going up and one former politician told them to sell their home. The reason that they are not refilling these positions is financial.
Alyssa Riccardi contributed to this story
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