COLTS NECK – Paul Santucci is the new police chief in Colts Neck. He was sworn in to the position by Mayor Thomas Orgo during the Jan. 30 meeting of the Township Committee at the municipal courthouse.
The meeting room was filled to capacity as residents turned out to support the new police chief. Colts Neck police officers and officers from neighboring municipalities were also in attendance.
Santucci has been a member of the Colts Neck Police Department for 23 years. He joined the department in 1995 as a patrolman and subsequently earned promotions to detective corporal, patrol corporal and patrol sergeant. In 2012, Santucci was promoted to detective sergeant.
Township Committeman Russell Macnow spoke about Santucci’s new role, saying, “As a sitting member of the governing body, it is a great privilege and honor to welcome you to be the police chief of Colts Neck. I have had the opportunity to get to know Paul. He is a hard-working, intelligent, diligent, enjoyable guy to be around.
“He is well respected by his peers, the governing body and, to my understanding, by members of other law enforcement agencies. I think he has a great vision and great ideas for how to help the township and he will be successful in implementing those ideas and visions,” Macnow said.
After taking the oath of office, Santucci addressed the members of the governing body and the audience.
“It is humbling to have your support, to have this attendance and to have the excitement that comes with this opportunity. I would like to thank [the governing body] for having the confidence in me and I thank you for giving me your trust with the police department,” he said.
“I want to thank my family and friends for coming out. Without the support of all of you, I would not be here. I would like to acknowledge the men and women in uniform, from the people hired over the last year to the people I’ve known for 20 years. The collective experiences I’ve had with all of you has made me who I am.
“I look forward to working with you. The department should not be about one man in one position, but about the collective efforts of everyone in the department. I look forward to working with you all and serving the people of Colts Neck,” Santucci said.
Santucci succeeds Kevin Sauter, who retired as police chief at the end of 2018.
