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This began on December 16, 2021, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Professional Standards Unit assumed command of Lavallette’s internal affairs functions after an audit of their records. From May 19, 2022 through March 24, 2023, the Prosecutor’s Office assumed full command and control of the department based on the terminal leave of then-Chief Colin Grant. Anthony Carrington, the Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives, was installed as officer in charge. Carrington and Joseph Mitchell, who had retired as Chief of Detectives, handled the day-to-day operations of the borough’s police force for almost a year.

“I am proud of the work we have done to assist the Lavallette Police Department. The police officers – the men and women that wear the uniform in Lavallette – have been very receptive to our implementation of formal procedures, practices and policies.

I’m optimistic that Chief LaCicero will lead these men and women effectively moving forward,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.

He thanked Carrington and Mitchell as well as Lt. Brian Haggerty and Chief Assistant Prosecutor – Professional Standards Unit, William Scharfenberg for their help. “At this point in time, Chief LaCicero has completed chief’s training with the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police, internal affairs training by the Ocean County’s

Prosecutor’s Office, and has benefitted from the leadership provided by this office – specifically Chief Carrington, Chief Mitchell, and Lt. Haggerty for the past ten months. He is ready to lead the Lavallette Police Department,” he said.

Lack Of Accreditation

Many local departments go through an exhaustive accreditation process updating policies or proving those policies follow the best practices of police departments. The review is administered by NJ State Association of Chiefs of Police. These best practices make sure everything is being followed to the letter and that the agency is efficient. It also reduces risk and liability exposure.

“While the borough has indicated that it is unable to afford the cost associated with getting the Lavallette Police Department accredited...it is my hope that they will, in time, be able to join the 26 other law enforcement agencies in Ocean County that are already accredited,” Billhimer said.

Political Meddling

The report indicated a “Meddlesome pattern of behavior by the governing body, current business administrator and current township attorney into the daily operations of the police function(s) of the Department, and continuous attempts to interfere with OCPO’s implementation of plans/directives/policies designed to meet current police standards.”

While the politicians running the town were referred to as meddling in the department’s affairs, the Prosecutor’s Office reported that the school superintendent took them up on offers to conduct presentations on topics like internet safety and bullying. Also, other first responders in town, department heads, and neighboring police departments were eager to cooperate, including the public works and beach patrol.

Defending The Town

The borough’s police chief and mayor said that the Prosecutor’s Office has painted the department in a bad light.

“I’ve personally done everything that was asked of us,” Chief Christian LaCicero said. “I had a good working relationship with Mitchell and Haggerty. We made the best of a bad situation.”

However, he said he was puzzled by the Prosecutor’s statement. They had a positive conversation before the statement went out. He wondered why it went to the public before it went to the town.

Addressing his promotion, which the county said was without official training, he said that by state statute the town has to have a chief. And by Civil Service regulations, the best candidate gets the position. He and Sgt. Justin Lamb both applied for the position and LaCicero said either of them were qualified.

Lamb is a councilman in Toms River. His father Robert Lamb is a councilman in Lavallette. Justin Lamb declined comment for this article.

While his father is the mayor, Chief LaCicero said that he stays out of issues. LaCicero said he doesn’t agree with the way the department has been characterized. He also feels that he was penalized for the actions of previous leadership. He was made chief in May of 2022, but he wasn’t fully allowed to take his department back until March of 2023. “Why was it held against me?”

Mayor Walter LaCicero said that he’s happy that the Prosecutor’s work is done in the borough but is concerned that the questions raised by their lawsuit won’t be answered.

The suit by Lavallette alleged that the Prosecutor’s Office exceeded their authority.

“They instructed us not to (assign) a chief even though the borough code and Civil Service said we have to,” he said.

He said that the Prosecutor’s Office wasn’t forthcoming in working with the governing body and officials. They’d ask “What are the problems you see? What are the proposed solutions?” and they would hear “We don’t have to tell you anything.”

Regarding any accusations of “meddling,” the mayor said that as elected officials, they should be advocating for the police. Residents expect them to know what is going on in their police department and to stand up for them. Additionally, they should be directing their business administrator and attorney to protect residents’ interests and the interests of the police officers.

The mayor is an attorney and was a police officer for 25 years. He said he spoke to two chiefs in other departments and their question was “Can they come in and take me over too?”

Trash: Continued From Page 1

Some of the most common garbage items included thousands of plastic bottle caps and lids, over 37,000 food and candy wrappers, and more than 22,000 cigarette filters.

Amidst the garbage was the “Roster of the Ridiculous,” as COA calls it, which is the most outrageous finds during a beach sweep. Some of these wacky items included asparagus, a car muffler, handlebars from a bike, Legos and more.

COA’s Beach Sweeps are held twice a year with a goal to clean the environment while recording debris for data which helps with federal and state legislation.

COA’s advocacy campaign manager Kari Martin said the data has helped push the state’s ban on single-use plastic bags and plastic-foam takeout containers, which have decreased nearly 38% since the ban.

According to the report, volunteers removed 5,833 plastic bags; 21,216 straws and 1,689 plastic food containers in 2022.

“We’re able to turn all of that effort into a legacy of information that we can use to change policies and to make the changes that we need to reduce litter that gets into our ocean and into our waterways,” said Cindy Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action. “It’s is not just ugly on the beaches, but as many of you know it’s lethal or harmful to marine life.”

During a recent press conference, COA staff explained that the amount of garbage pulled off New Jersey beaches last year dropped from 2021.

Disposable face masks decreased by 40%, disposable wipes also decreased by 40%, and plastic bottle caps and lids dropped 29%. Other items such as e-cigarette cartridges, dog waste bags, and disposable gloves all saw a significant decline.

During the Q&A session, one person questioned the restriction of outdoor balloons. COA said they are currently working to find a sponsor, as balloons and their ribbons are a great threat to seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals, COA said.

“We really need to change the public awareness about balloons. They’re beautiful. They’re fun, but they’re inside toys or things to be very careful with.,” Zipf said.

This Year’s Sweep

The press conference relaying last year’s information had another purpose: to bring attention to this year’s clean-up.

If you’d like to be a volunteer in the organization’s 2023 Beach Sweeps, it will be held on April 1 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. across the Jersey Shore. For a list of locations, visit cleanoceanaction.org/aboutbeachsweeps.

Ocean County Shrine Ladies Club - Bunco Party

TOMS RIVER – Ocean County Shrine Ladies Club Bunco Party to support the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia will be on April 23 at Holiday City Berkeley, Clubhouse #2, 631 Jamaica Boulevard, Toms River.

Doors open at 12 p.m.; game begins at 1 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person and are nonrefundable. Includes sandwich, chips, dessert and water. Gift basket raffle and 50/50.

Call for tickets: Rosemarie LoPresti at 732228-7617. Make checks payable to: OCSLC. Mail to: Rosemarie LoPresti, 35 Charlen Road, Toms River, NJ 08755. All tickets must be purchased by April 14.

Crestwood Village 3 Residents Club Spring Fling

WHITING – Crestwood Village 3

Residents Club will hold a Spring Fling dance on April 15 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Unity Hall, 250 Schoolhouse Road Whiting. Cost is $10 per person. Music by DJ Louie. BYOB. Included: coffee, tea, soda, water, chips and dessert. Tickets on sale at Unity Hall on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. No refunds unless cancelled. For any questions, please call 732-993-7100.

Trump:

Brandon Store on Route 37.

The former president posted online that he would return to New York City to face unspecified charges in the Manhattan District Attorney’s ongoing investigation of him.

flags and held up signs and banners near the highway. The event also provided the opportunity for speakers to promote the America First movement and gave some township GOP primary contenders a chance to campaign.

because “they are afraid of him.”

Binder did say he felt his life was better when Trump was in office. “I wasn’t paying so much for everything. He and Jimmy Carter are the only presidents in like 40 years that didn’t start a new war.”

River resident who also wouldn’t give her name saying she was concerned about her job. “I want to see him win as he did last time.” She felt things were better under the 45th president.

Trump said he was expecting to be arrested despite no official word from prosecutors as of this writing.

The local rally drew approximately 40 people who waved American flags, Trump

Several participants repeated that the 2020 election was stolen – a statement that every court, state election offices, and even Fox News hosts have said in court documents is “the big lie.”

Jeff Binder of Berkeley was among those at the rally and said he felt that investigators were pursuing the case against Trump

“They’ll do anything they can to stop him,” said another area protestor who held up a sign but wouldn’t disclose her name. She said her life during his term was “fantastic, no worries. I hope he runs again. I hope things turn around back to where they should be.”

Continued From Page 1 (Trump - See Page 8)

That sentiment was echoed by a Toms

“The economy, everything, you name it. America was better and safe. Now I can’t afford my gas bill. I want a president who cares about America,” she added.

“I feel like it has become a circus,” said Tammy Greiss of Bayville, carrying an American flag.

She was referencing the current political

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Trump: Continued From Page 7

environment that is occurring on both sides of the political spectrum. “No one is right or wrong and one party isn’t better than the other but if everybody came together no matter what you believe, as Americans, and supported each other, I think it would be so much better. Trump was a breath of fresh air,” Greiss added.

“I have been up since 5 o’clock this morning, this is my purpose. Let Trump do his job,” Margaret Reed of Toms River said. She carried a Trump flag but was also waving at the cars that passed by. She was in Manahawkin a week prior at a protest to save whales.

Reed noted that while some drivers beeped their horns a few put out their middle finger to them. “They don’t know. You got to feel sorry for them because they are ignorant,” she noted of the latter responders. “I had a better paycheck (during Trump’s tenure). Life was good and I could afford to put gas in my car and to eat,” Reed added.

“I want to see Trump finish what he was supposed to do. Can you imagine what would have happened, if that man wasn’t interrupted, where America would be today?” she pondered. “Right now, the world is laughing at us.” are supporting President Trump since day one. President Trump proved himself again and again. He is there for all Americans There is no question that he won the 2020 election. It was rigged.”

Inside the store was a musician playing a guitar. Customers were checking out shirts, banners, flags, sweat shirts and other merchandise that catered to Trump’s supporter base.

The owners of the store that opened last year were pleased with the turnout and noted that since Trump had announced his expected arrest, business had picked up.

Gail Just of Sussex County traveled nearly two hours to be at the protest. She held up a sign stating “Trump was right about everything.”

Just said she was present “to support Donald Trump in his hour of need who they want to arrest on a criminal charge. What we know is the charges were all trumped up. You can’t go from a misdemeanor to a felony.” She said she was the very first female New Jersey State Trooper, 48 years ago.

Two young children were heard chanting “Let’s Go Brandon” an expression mocking current President Joe Biden. Their father Andy Gibson of Barnegat who does holographic advertising work wore a fan on his back that featured LED lights that stated “Trump 2024.”

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Chaplain Rafi King carried a sign stating Jews for Trump and was among those who spoke at the rally in front of the store. “We

Jersey Shore Online.com reached out to the organizations Ocean County Democrats and Toms River Democrats for comments for this article but neither replied at press time.

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Sixth Annual Autism Resources Fair

TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Library’s Sixth Annual Autism Resources Fair, returning to a live format for the first time since 2019, will take place in the Toms River Branch, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 15.

Families affected by autism and developmental disabilities can find resources suited to their needs among nearly 40 support groups, medical professionals, therapists, advocates, schools, nonprofits, public agencies and service vendors. The five-hour Fair will also include:

• Keynote Address by Paul Aronsohn, the New Jersey Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families

• “ABA Therapy: An Overview,” by Step Up Family Services

• “The Developmental Model of Autism Care for Children, Teens, and Families: The What, Where, How, When, and Why,” by Dr. Susan Smith-Foley of Positive Development

• “Preparing for Emergencies,” by Jamie Prioli, Disability Services, Ocean County College

• Sibling Get-Together, led by Ocean County Librarian Kate Sanchez

• “Chair Yoga with Belle,” featuring Ocean County Library Assistant Belle Burns

• “Sensory Shaker Bottles,” crafting for teens and adults, with Ocean County Librarian Jessica Petrecca and Sensory Space

Assistant Meredith Silvestri

• Balloon Art by Debby Pease, of Premier Picnics & Parties

• “Sing and Play with Ms. Kat and SLP Musically,” with Kat Tappan-Verderosa

• “Paws for Reading,” a chance for children to exercise their reading skills for friendly, attentive therapy dogs.

• Free Identification Cards for those with developmental disabilities, supplied by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office.

• The 501st Legion Northeast Remnant, ready to join you for keepsake photos.

Light refreshments will be provided. Individuals who need a pause in the day’s activities can visit the Sensory Space in the Toms River Branch, and the Toms River Township Sensory Trailer, stationed curbside, directly outside the Branch. Free parking will be available in the Toms River Township Parking Garage, adjacent to the Branch.

The Autism Resources Fair is sponsored by the Ocean County Library Foundation. Registration is not required to attend this free event. To ensure seating for certain programs, registration at theoceancountylibrary.org/autism is required.

For more information, visit the Toms River Branch, 101 Washington Street, call 732-349-6200, or keep up with new details through the OCL Autism Resources Center on the Library’s website.