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.