Toms River Police Department

02/22/2026

In anticipation of a severe winter storm due to impact the area, Governor Mikie Sherrill has issued a state of emergency beginning Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 12:00 pm. The storm is expected to bring snowfall and dangerously low temperatures. Residents are encouraged to be prepared and avoid travel. Please remove vehicles from the roadway for plowing operations. Stay safe!

02/04/2026

Please be advised, the Toms River Police Department’s Underwater Recovery Team is conducting ice-water rescue training in the area of Dillon’s Creek and the Gilford Park Yacht Club until 4pm today, February 4, 2026.

02/01/2026

⚠️ Frozen Water Safety Reminder⚠️

Please stay off frozen bays, rivers, ponds, and all bodies of water. Ice thickness can vary greatly and is often weaker than it appears, especially with changing temperatures and moving water.
No ice is ever guaranteed to be safe. Your safety — and the safety of first responders — depends on making smart choices. Stay off the ice.

01/24/2026

In anticipation of a severe winter storm due to impact the area, Governor Mikie Sherrill has issued a state of emergency beginning Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 5:00 pm. The storm is expected to bring snowfall and dangerously low temperatures. Residents are encouraged to be prepared and avoid travel. Please remove vehicles from the roadway for plowing operations. Stay safe!

01/19/2026

The Toms River Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance identifying a suspect in a robbery that took place at the Noble Smoke Shop, 203 Rt. 37E, on January 19, 2026 at 6:03am. The suspect is described as a white male, medium build, last seen wearing a black North Face jacket with a fur hood, light colored cargo pants and black sneakers. During the robbery the suspect attempted to restrain the female employee, utilizing plastic zip ties. The employee escaped unharmed and was able to call 911. The suspect was last seen in the area of the Jamestown Apartments. Anyone with information contact Det. Putkowski at 732-349-0150 ext. 1349 or via email at: [email protected]

01/18/2026

Missing Person:

We are seeking the public’s help locating 64 year-old Stephen Wardenski who was last seen on January 16th around 9am. Stephen was wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt or jacket with a backpack and riding a red and black older model mountain bicycle. Anyone with information contact Det. DeRosa at 732-349-0150 ext. 1386 or [email protected].

01/07/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Toms River Township Police Department is scheduled for an on-site assessment as part of its program to achieve accreditation by verifying that it meets recognized professional best practices.

Administered by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with best practice standards in five basic areas: the administrative function, the personnel function, the operations function, the investigative function, and the arrestee/detainee function.

Agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments by calling 908-864-5543 on Thursday, January 15, 2026 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Comments will be taken by the Assessment Team. Emailed comments can be sent to the police department at [email protected].

Telephone comments are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards. Please contact Lieutenant Daniel Ruiz at 732-349-0150 extension 1339 for more information.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Toms River Township Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them by email to Harry J Delgado, Ed.S Accreditation Program Director, [email protected], or write to the New Jersey State Association of Chief’s of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12, Marlton, N.J. 08053.

01/01/2026

Avoid the area of Bay Avenue (Rt. 571) and North Bay Avenue due to an ongoing crash investigation with a utility pole down.

12/26/2025

Please use extreme caution if you have to travel tonight as snow and icy road conditions may be present. We recommend you slow down, increase following distance and avoid unnecessary travel.

12/25/2025

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Toms River Police Department! We hope you have a safe and happy holiday!

11/30/2025

Update: We have identified the female and made contact with her family members. We would like to thank the public and our law enforcement partners with the US Department of State.

We are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the below pictured female. She was located on 11/29/25 walking around the Pelican Island section of the Township. Anyone with information contact Det. Derosa at 732-349-0150 ext. 1386 or via email at [email protected].

11/27/2025