FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – With the retirement of the Freehold Township Police Department’s chief after two decades of leadership and four decades of service, a veteran of the department has been selected to direct law enforcement efforts in the municipality.
During a Jan. 28 meeting, Township Committee members appointed George Baumann as police chief.
Following that action by the committee, Baumann was administered the oath of office by New Jersey Superior Court Judge Teresa Kondrup-Coyle. He succeeds Ernest Schriefer, who joined the Freehold Township Police Department in 1980 and was named chief in 2000.
According to Mayor Lester A. Preston Jr., Baumann joined the police department in 1986 and had been serving as a captain for the past three years.
A graduate of Freehold Township High School, Baumann entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1980 and began his law enforcement career as a military police officer. He was honorably discharged after a four-year tour of duty. Baumann was hired as a Special II officer in the Seaside Heights Police Department and was later hired by Freehold Township.
Preston said Baumann holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is pursuing a graduate degree. In 2010, Baumann traveled to Haiti after that nation was struck by a devastating earthquake and spent 25 days participating in rescue and medical efforts.
Preston recognized Schriefer, who was in attendance, saying, “After 40 years, you have done an outstanding job in the department and with your leadership in Freehold Township. It has been a pleasure and we wish you nothing but the best in your retirement.”
Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden praised Schriefer for his tenure as police chief.
“(Schriefer) is a fantastic chief in a fantastic department,” Golden said. “You have been a mentor to me when I became sheriff and you left a legacy. And when (Baumann) takes the reins, he will hit the ground running. He will continue that legacy.”
In his first comments as police chief, Baumann joined Preston and Golden in recognizing Schriefer’s service to Freehold Township
“He has been my friend for 13 years,” Baumann said. “For the last three years, he has been building me up and preparing me for this moment.”
Alongside Baumann, three other officers received promotions during the Township Committee meeting.
Daniel Pasquinucci was promoted from lieutenant to captain, succeeding Baumann in the position. Pasquinucci has been employed in law enforcement for 21 years, beginning his career in Monmouth Beach and Ocean Township.
Pasquinucci joined the Freehold Township Police Department in 2000. He was promoted to sergeant in 2006 and to lieutenant in 2016. As captain, Pasquinucci will oversee the police department’s operations and administrative divisions.
Jarrad Kodran, previously a sergeant, was promoted to lieutenant. He has been employed in law enforcement for 15 years, beginning his career as a park ranger with the Monmouth County Park System. He later became a corrections officer with the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department.
Kodran joined the Freehold Township Police Department in 2008 and after serving as a sergeant in the patrol division for the past three years, he will serve as a lieutenant in the patrol division.
Promoted to sergeant was Joseph Winowski, who joined the Freehold Township Police Department in 2005 and served in the patrol division. In his new position, Winowski will serve as a patrol sergeant on the afternoon shift.