MISSION

"Our mission is to improve the quality of life in Mountain Lakes by working together with all citizens to preserve life, maintain human rights, protect property and promote public safety."

VALUE STATEMENT

To achieve this mission, we commit to these specific values:

• We value our members and have confidence in their individual initiative and ability to solve problems
  
• We value our partnership with the community as a means of identifying and addressing public safety and other quality of life issues
  
• We value excellence and are committed to continuous process improvement
  
• We value education among our department members and the community we serve
  
• We value the safety, development and future of our children
  
• We value integrity, fairness and open communications
  
• We value teamwork and collaboration as a means to achieve organizational success
  
• We value courteous and respectful interaction with all people

HISTORY

The Mountain Lakes Police Department was organized formally in 1924. From 1911 to 1922, Mountain Lakes was protected by a volunteer police department that worked with the Boonton and Hanover Police. From 1922 until the Borough was incorporated in 1924, the community paid for the services of one part-time patrolman.

The first Police Chief, Harry Dennis was appointed in 1924 and gained national notoriety by thwarting a high jacking. Chief Dennis, in this incident, mounted the running board of the high jacked truck and although challenged at gun point by the perpetrators, was able to recover the truck and arrest both hijackers.

Chief Dennis retired in 1959 and was replaced by Wes Brimlow, who only held the post for two yeas. He was succeeded by Joseph Spinozzi, who had formally served with the Boonton Police Department. Chief Spinozzi served as Police Chief for 25 years before passing away in 1986. In that same year, Gerald W. Di Ello was named Chief of Police after a distinguished career as the department's detective, in which he was involved in solving the only homicide in recorded Borough history.

Upon Chief Di Ello's retirement in 1992, Charles F. Mc Coy was named the department's fifth Police Chief. Mc Coy served in this capacity for seven years and doing his tenure was very active with the State and County associations of Chiefs of Police, serving on many committees, as well as being elected President of the County Police Chiefs Association.

PRESENT

In 1998, Chief Robert Tovo was selected from a pool of several candidates to oversee the thirteen (13) member department. Chief Tovo, 34 at the time of his appointment, was one of the youngest people to receive appointment to a Police Chief' position.

Chief Tovo is a graduate of several prestigious police management and leadership programs such as Northwestern University's School of Staff and Command, F.B.I. Law Enforcement Executive Management Program and the West Point Command and Leadership Program, where he is currently an instructor.

Chief Tovo presently oversees a department consisting of fourteen (14) police officers, four of which serve in supervisory positions and the remaining officers as patrolmen. Sergeants First Class Stephen Ough and Brian Valentine serve as Platoon Commanders and share the duties as the department executive officer, taking command of the department in the Chief's absence. They are assisted by two additional supervisors, Sergeant Joseph Mullaney and Detective George Peterson.

The annual budget for the police department is $1,300,000.00, which includes salaries, operating expenses, communications desk and annual capital projects.