Hazlet’s New Police Chief Sworn In At Tuesday Ceremony

HAZLET, NJ – Hazlet Police Department Deputy Chief Ted Wittke Jr. officially assumed the position of Acting Chief this week at a ceremony outside Hazlet’s Town Hall.

Wittke and four other law enforcement officials were promoted at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at a ceremony in the parking lot of the municipal building. The new chief succeeds Chief Philip Meehan, who has served the Hazlet community since 1997.

Hazlet Mayor Mike Glackin also recently proclaimed Sept. 8 "Philip Meehan Day" to honor the "untiring dedication and loyalty rendered by Chief Meehan during his 23 years of employment with the Township of Hazlet." Meehan's departure from the police department was acknowledged with a 'walkout' ceremony last week. Read more: Retiring Hazlet Police Chief Honored With Walkout Ceremony

Wittke is a Marine Corps veteran who began his law enforcement career in February 1999 with the Hazlet Township Police Department. From February 1999 until July 2012, he served as a Patrol Officer assigned to the Uniformed Patrol Division. In July 2012, he was promoted to Sergeant and was placed in charge of a squad of patrol officers and, in February 2014, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and took over as the Detective Bureau Commander, directly overseeing investigations and the internal affairs division.

In 2001, Wittke was assigned as an undercover officer to the Bayshore Narcotics Task Force where he worked on cases involving the sale and distribution of illegal drugs in the area. He also implemented the Hazlet Police Department's inaugural Field Training Program for new officers in 2012, a program which has been used to train over 25 officers and it is still in use today.

Alongside Wittke, other officers up for promotion on Tuesday include Lt. Robert Mulligan (who will become the Deputy Chief), Sgt. Nicholas Greene and Sgt. Scott Randolph (who will be promoted to Lieutenant) and Ptl. Richard Jaeger (who will be promoted to Sergeant).

“I look forward to continuing to lead our officers through these tough times," the incoming chief told Patch. "The last year has been difficult for police nationwide but one thing hasn’t changed, that our residents remain supportive of our police department and that when they call us, we will be there. We do a great job providing police services to our community but we can always improve and I look forward to evaluating our operations in order to make proactive changes.”

In December 2016, Wittke was promoted to Deputy Chief and, in July 2018, he attended the 10-week FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, a professional course for law enforcement executives from all over the world. In 2019, Wittke was elected to the Sergeant-At-Arms position on the Executive Board of the FBI National Academy Associates, New Jersey Chapter and still serves on the board to date.

He also served as the coordinator for the LESO 1033 Program which has acquired over three million dollars in military surplus equipment for Hazlet Township, free of charge.

Wittke is also a two-time recipient of the Monmouth County 200 Club Award and the Narcotics Officers Association Commendation Award. He has been honored with numerous Department Commendations throughout his career and is a member of the Monmouth County Chiefs of Police Association, New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police and The International Association of Chiefs of Police.

On Sept. 8, Wittke will be named the sixth Chief of Police in Hazlet Township history.

“I know it sounds cliché, but being able to help people has been my favorite part of the job,” Wittke told Patch. “There are not many occupations where you are asked to help solve other people’s problems. Whether it be a first aid call, domestic call, or investigating a crime where someone was scammed, many times we deal with residents that are in crisis and to be able to help them is rewarding.”

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