Toms River Police Chief Guy Maire will retire on January 1, 2027, following 35 years of service with the department, Mayor Daniel Rodrick announced.

Rodrick praised Maire for his decades of service and leadership, saying the chief has spent his career working to make Toms River a safer community.

“Chief Maire has dedicated 35 years of his life to protecting and serving the people of Toms River,” Rodrick said. “I am personally grateful for his service, his leadership, and the tremendous contributions he has made to our police department.”

Rodrick said he promoted Maire to captain shortly after taking office, beginning a close working relationship focused on public safety and improving police operations. Among the issues they worked on together was clearing homeless encampments where more than 30 people had been living in wooded areas while helping connect displaced individuals with housing.

The township has also made significant investments in the police department, including purchasing 27 new Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicles and hiring 11 additional officers. The department now has 95 patrol officers, with additional hiring planned that is expected to bring the number to 98.

With Maire’s retirement approaching, the township will spend the next three months evaluating candidates and establishing a new leadership structure. Lieutenants will be interviewed for promotion to captain, while eligible sergeants will be considered for promotion to lieutenant.

According to Rodrick, no current officer has the required two years of service as a captain to receive a permanent appointment as police chief. As a result, the township expects to appoint an officer in charge or acting chief following Maire’s retirement while newly promoted captains gain the necessary experience.

“We are not going to rush such an important decision,” Rodrick said. “We have an opportunity to build a strong leadership team that will serve Toms River for years to come.”

Rodrick concluded by thanking Maire and his family and wishing him “good health, happiness, and many wonderful years together in retirement.”