Newton Police Department - Newton, New Jersey

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Newton Police Department
39 Trinity Street
Newton, New Jersey 07860

Emergency: 9-1-1
Phone: 973-383-2525
Fax: 973-383-0090
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Commanding Officers


Chief John Tomasula

Police Chief

Chief John Tomasula

Chief Tomasula began employment with the Newton Police Department in April 1983 as a part-time Communications Dispatcher, where he worked several hours per week. On April 22, 1985 he was appointed to the position of police officer and upon graduating the New Jersey State Police Academy at Sea Girt NJ, was assigned to foot patrol duty on Spring Street and the general business district. He worked foot patrol for 3 years before being assigned to regular patrol duty. In September 1988 he was assigned to the Detective Bureau where as part of his responsibilities received specialized training involving investigations, evidence identification and processing, auto theft, interviewing and interrogation. In March 1994 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was re-assigned to patrol as a supervisor. In August 1995 he was promoted to the rank of Captain under a re-organization of the Department's rank structure and was assigned to the day-to-day operations responsibilities for the department. In that capacity he received specialized training in police administration and management and graduated the West Point Command & Leadership program provided through the NJ State Association of Chief's of Police. In August 2000 he was promoted to the rank of Chief of Police where he continued to develop management capabilities and experience which included attendance and graduation from the FBI National Academy, Session #223 in December, 2005. His responsibilities involve the general administration of the Police Department which include but are not necessarily limited to:

  • General Direction, Control and Administration
  • Planning Responsibilities
  • Responsibility to the Town Manager
  • External Affairs
  • Clerical Staff
  • Personnel Files and Records
  • Rules, Regulations, Policies and Procedures
  • Research/Grants
  • Purchasing/Procurement
  • Budget Preparation for the Police Department
In furthering the objectives of the Department Chief Tomasula maintains membership and association with the:

Chief Tomasula can be reached at (973) 383-2525 or .



Detective Lieutenant Michael Richards

Investigative Section Supervisor

Lt Michael Richards

Det. Lt. Richards began his career with the Newton Police Department in 1989 as a full-time police dispatcher. After receiving training in 1992 to become a Special Police Officer, he performed foot patrol in the business district several hours per week in addition to his dispatching position. He then became a Patrolman in 1994 and served as the department's first full-time Bike Patrol Officer. He attended the Somerset County Police Academy and graduated in June 1995. After graduation, he worked in the Patrol Division until he was assigned to the Detective Bureau in 2000. He served as a Detective until 2002 when he was made Detective Sergeant. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2006. Det. Lt. Richards is currently the President of the Sussex County Detectives' Association, Past-President of the Sussex County PBA Local 138 and is a 2005 graduate of the West Point Command and Leadership Program.

Det. Lt. Richards's responsibilities include:
  • Supervises/conducts investigations dealing with all major crimes
  • Responsible for review, oversight and management all other investigations
  • Review/develop policies and procedures related to investigations
  • Media Relations involving criminal investigations
  • Internal Affairs investigations and special investigations
  • Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC)/Conducts Department training
  • Registered Sex Offenders records and investigations
  • Property/Evidence Management and disposition
  • Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) records, investigations and enforcement
  • Supervision and Scheduling of Investigative Personnel
  • Interaction/liaison with outside investigative agencies
  • Background Investigations for Police Officer employment
  • Supervision of Juvenile Section & D.A.R.E. Program
  • Missing Child Alert System Administrator (TRAK)
  • Maintain records of Child abuse investigations and liaison with DYFS
  • Criminal Intelligence gathering/maintenance and Crime Analysis
  • Required Reporting
  • Required Budgeting
  • CALEA Accreditation Manager

Det. Lt. Richards can be reached at (973) 383-2525 or .


Lieutenant Mark Zappa

Support Services Division Supervisor

Lt Mark Zappa

Lt. Mark Zappa began his employment with the Newton Police Department on May 16th, 1983 as a part-time communications dispatcher. In January of 1986 he was appointed as a Class II Special Officer after receiving the required training. His responsibilities included patrolling the Town of Newton's business district and working special events to supplement the full time police officers. He was appointed to Patrolman on February 13th, 1989. He attended the Somerset County Police Academy and graduated in May of 1990. After graduation he was assigned to the Patrol Division. He was briefly assigned to the Detective Bureau and subsequently returned to the Patrol Division. While in the Patrol Division he received specialized training in motor vehicle accident investigation and reconstruction. He was part of Sussex County's first Fatal Accident Response Team. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on September 11th, 2000 where he was a Patrol Supervisor. On March 13th, 2006 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

Lt. Zappa's responsibilities include:
  • Communications / 9-1-1
  • Supervision, scheduling and training of the 9-1-1 Communications Operators
  • Conduct background investigations on prospective 9-1-1 Communications Operators
  • Receive and investigate citizen complaints against 9-1-1 Communications Operators
  • Liaison to all agencies and municipalities that contract emergency telephone answering and/ or dispatching services with the Town of Newton
  • Regularly reviews all audio tape recordings of telephone and radio communications
  • Prepare audio recordings for evidence and/or pending court proceedings
  • Computer Network
  • Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC)
  • Police Vehicle Maintenance
  • Police Equipment
  • Maintain the police vehicles' mobile data terminals and in-car video recording system
  • Maintain the departments breath testing equipment
  • Maintain police, fire and EMS radio and communication equipment
  • Supervision and scheduling of school crossing guards
  • Conduct background investigations on school crossing guards
  • Serves as the department's counter terrorism officer
  • Buildings and Grounds
  • Security in and around police headquarters
  • Certifies and monitors towing companies that tow for the police department
  • Department Liaison to the Office of Emergency Management
  • Maintaining records
  • Required Budgeting
  • Required Reporting

Lt. Zappa can be reached at (973) 383-2525 or .


Lieutenant Robert Osborn

Operations Division Supervisor

Lt Robert Osborn

Lt. Osborn graduated from York College of Pennsylvania in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Shortly thereafter, he was hired by the Newton Police Department as a full-time police dispatcher. In December of 1990, he graduated from the Somerset County Police Academy. For the next decade, he worked in the Patrol Division while also serving as the Department's D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Officer before being assigned to the Detective Bureau in 2000. Lt. Osborn then became the Department's first SRO (School Resource Officer)/Juvenile Detective before being promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2002. Subsequently, he advanced to the rank of Lieutenant in 2006. Lt. Osborn is a Field Training Officer, in addition to being Past-Treasurer of the Sussex County PBA Local 138.

Lt. Osborn's responsibilities include:
  • Supervision and Scheduling of Patrol Division/Special Officers
  • Serves as Public Information Officer (PIO)
  • Supervision of Traffic Bureau
  • Serves as Open Public Records Act (OPRA) Police Records Custodian
  • Performs Accident Report Review
  • Domestic Violence
  • Supervision, Scheduling, and/or Performing Departmental Training
  • Manages Outside Employment Scheduling, Escrow Accounts and Related Records
  • Planning and Supervision of Special Events
  • Municipal and State Court Liaison
  • Supervision of Court Discovery Process
  • Manages Employee Performance Evaluation System
  • Warrants and Subpoenas
  • Internal Affairs
  • Required Reporting
  • Department Records Management

Lt. Osborn can be reached at (973) 383-2525 or .