Veteran officer will serve as acting chief for one year
Detective Lt. Antonio V. Amodio Jr., 51, has been chosen to succeed outgoing Ocean Township Chief of Police Robert Swannack, when he retires effective Dec. 31
Amodio, whose appointment is effective Jan. 1, will serve in an acting capacity for his first year in the chief’s position, according to Township Manager Dave Kochel.
His performance will be evaluated during this time against a set of goals that will be mutually established by him and the manager. After his successful completion of this probationary period, he will be granted permanent status as chief of police, Kochel said.
At the same time, Lt. Neil Ingenito, 51, will be promoted to the rank of captain, also effective Jan. 1. The promotion is the first step in the restructuring of the department as was recommended in an independent study.
According to officials, there will be additional promotions in 2005.
Amodio began his law enforcement career in 1975 and transferred to the Ocean Township Police Department in 1982 after serving in Ocean Grove and Allenhurst. He was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division in 1985 and then promoted to sergeant in 1993, where he served in the Patrol Division. In 1997 he was promoted to lieutenant and is currently the division commander of criminal investigations.
Amodio is a graduate of the Monmouth County Police Academy and has attended Wilmington College, New Castle, Del., and The College of New Jersey, Ewing.
As a veteran of almost 30 years in law enforcement, Amodio has received numerous awards and citations from the Ocean Township Police Department, Monmouth/Ocean County Intelligence Bureau, and the 200 Club of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
Kochel developed an Assessment Center process that involved the administration of a series of exercises to evaluate the strengths of the six officers who were eligible to participate in the promotional process. An outside panel of law enforcement and management professionals evaluated each candidate and made the recommendation for promotion that was followed by Kochel and the mayor and council.
Mayor William F. Larkin praised the work of Amodio in his capacity as detective-lieutenant.
“We had a very volatile situation last year at this time with respect to rowdy parties being hosted by Monmouth University students renting homes in Ocean Township. It was Lt. Amodio who developed a comprehensive approach to this challenge,” Larkin said.
“Not only did he have a plan, but he then proceeded to implement the plan in a manner that involved the impacted citizens being a part of the solution. The situation this academic year has been one of dramatic improvement.”
Ingenito began his career with the township force in 1982 after previously serving with the Durham (N.C.) Police Department and the Summit Police Department. In 1989 he was promoted to sergeant and in 1993 to lieutenant, both within the Patrol Division, where he currently is a squad commander. As a veteran of nearly 28 years, Ingenito has received numerous citations and awards from the department and is the department training officer.
Ingenito holds a degree in sociology from Upsala College, East Orange, and a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University, Newark. He is also a graduate of the Union County Police Academy.

