Chief Robert E. Osborn, Jr.

Chief of Police

Chief Robert Osborn

Chief Robert 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 where he was the recipient of the Chief Richard R. Ryan Physical Fitness Award for attaining the highest level of physical fitness during recruit training and the State of New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Certificate of Merit Award for being the recruit who, in the opinion of class members, displayed those qualities of scholarship and leadership that are indicative of exceptional future professional performance in law enforcement.

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. Chief Osborn then became the Department’s first S.R.O. (School Resource Officer)/Juvenile Detective and Community Policing Officer before being promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2002.

Subsequently, he advanced to the rank of Lieutenant in 2006 and was the Operations Divisions Commander for the last 13 years where his responsibilities included but were not limited to: scheduling and supervision of the patrol division, OPRA Police Records Custodian, liaison for the municipal and state courts and manager of the departmental performance evaluation system.  He also conducted internal affairs investigations, accident report review and supervised special events. 

Chief Osborn also served as a certified Field Training Officer, a Public Information Officer and Past-Treasurer of the Sussex County PBA Local 138.

He has overall responsibility for the administration of the Police Department which includes but is not necessarily limited to the following:

• General direction, control and administration
• Planning responsibilities
• External affairs
• Personnel files and records
• Rules, Regulations, Policies and Procedures
• Research/Grants
• Purchasing/procurement
• Budget preparation

Chief Osborn can be reached at (973) 383-2525 or rosborn@newtonpolice.org.

Lieutenant Michael Monaco

Operations Division Commander

Lieutenant Michael Monaco

Lieutenant Monaco graduated from Bloomfield (NJ) College in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice/Sociology. He was initially hired as a Police Dispatcher in 1992 before being hired as a Class II Special Police Officer in 1993. In November of 1995 he was hired as a full time Police Officer and graduated the 193rd Basic Class for Police Officers held at the New Jersey State Police Training Center at Sea Girt. Over the next several years Lt. Monaco has held numerous assignments that included being a Detective assigned to the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force, Firearms Instructor, Field Training Officer and the Department’s first Drug Recognition Expert (D.R.E.)

Lieutenant Monaco’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

Lieutenant Monaco can be reached at (973) 383-2525 or mmonaco@newtonpolice.org.

Lieutenant Steven VanNieuwland

Support Services Division Commander

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Lieutenant VanNieuwland’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

Lieutenant VanNieuwland can be reached at (973) 383-2525 or svannieuwland@newtonpolice.org.