CLARE MARIE CELANO Freehold Borough police Lt. Mark Wodell was promoted to his present rank in 2006 and is responsible for patrol personnel and scheduling in the police department. Wodell grew up in Freehold Township and remains a resident of that community. FREEHOLD — Police Lt. Mark Wodell is one of the lucky ones. After almost 15 years of police work, he is still enthusiastic about the work he does.
Wodell, 42, a veteran member of the Freehold Borough Police Department, said he still looks forward to going to work each day and to the events that will take place. He has worked on the streets and in administration.
Wodell was born in Newton and his family moved to Freehold Township when he was 2. He grew up in the township and joined the East Freehold Fire Department in 1984. He said his grandfather was a part-time police officer in Wayne.
Wodell, who resides in Freehold Township, earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
One reason Wodell said he chose to work in law enforcement was because of the excitement connected with the job. Job security and the ability to work with people in a community were other factors.
He said he wanted to work in Freehold Borough.
“I liked the fact that Freehold Borough is a very diverse town and I liked the sense of community here,” he said.
In 2000, Wodell had a chance to establish a connection with the community on a daily basis when he served as the department’s community police officer. He worked in the schools as the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer and in crime prevention. He was responsible for initiating the department’s participation in the National Night Out Against Crime.
Wodell was promoted to sergeant in 2001 and became responsible for supervising the patrol division on his shift. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2006 and is currently responsible for patrol personnel and scheduling in the department.
When he is not working, Wodell said he can be found at one of the soccer fields two of his three children play on.
In the Freehold Soccer League he coaches a team that his son, Sean, 6, plays on. He is as assistant coach with the Battle of Monmouth Soccer Club, where his daughter, Julia, 10, plays.
He and his wife, Mary, are also the parents of Jaime, 12.
Although the administrative duties of his position keep him at headquarters most of the time, Wodell does have a chance to interact with the Freehold Borough community when he participates in events such as the Santa train and Kruise Night.
Wodell’s mind has captured numerous snapshots of important events, both good and bad. His most memorable happy work experience was the day he responded to a call at the Parker House Condominiums on Broad Street. He and some fellow officers helped to deliver a baby.
He said he remembered thinking as they gathered clean towels and sheets, “I don’t believe this is happening.”
Unfortunately, sad events are also part of his memory bank. He revealed the most difficult when he spoke very briefly about a call he received during which he and fellow officers performed CPR on a baby. Reflecting back on this moment was visibly painful as Wodell revealed quietly that the child “did not make it.”
Working as a police officer also offers some strange occurrences, such as the time he responded to a call about a man who was trying to break out of the bus station on Throckmorton Street.
“He was hiding inside when they closed the store,” Wodell explained. “When he tried to leave, he realized that the windows and doors were all barred. A passer-by heard him trying to break out and called us.”
Just another day on the job as a Freehold Borough police officer.
Staff writer Clare Marie Celano may be reached at [email protected]