Evesham Township Police Chief Mike Barth will be closing the book on his storied career as chief when he retires at the end of June.
Barth began with the department in August 1989 and will be finishing his career on a high note, initiating numerous changes since his start 23 years ago.
“It’s going to be different, obviously. Still have some work to wrap up, but I’m excited,” Barth said.
Since his start, he has initiated a complete overhaul of the Evesham Township Police brand, starting with uniforms and cars, the most recognizable items of a force.
“When I took over, there was a conscious decision to rebrand the department,” Barth said. “We started reaching out to the community, too.”
Additionally, Barth has implemented the use of social media to apprehend suspects in ongoing cases in conjunction with anonymous texts, allowing residents to report crime in an up-to-date fashion.
“I think that, obviously, we have realized a fairly large amount of success in using social media, all in an effort to get our message out and to get the community to interact with us,” Barth said. “Operationally, we get a lot of information.”
“I was very happy with Chief Barth’s desire to reach out to our residents through programs like the Citizens’ Police Academy and Coffee with a Cop,” township manager Bill Cromie said. “I would hope the next chief continues to connect with the public in the same way.”
Barth also was able to get the department national accreditation.
“It was a rather arduous process to get through. As an agency, we’re so much better off through the process,” Barth said.
According to the department’s website, the process is voluntary and required the agency to develop extensive written directives, which strengthened accountability and developed a stronger relationship with the community. The accreditation process requires constant monitoring and is reassessed every three years.
Currently, the Evesham Police Department is one of only nine police agencies in the state to have national accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
Barth is hopeful his successor will continue these initiatives, and has faith in the next chief, which will be chosen by Cromie.
“Chief Barth is the consummate police officer. He will be remembered for singlehandedly authoring the department’s 10-volume policy manual and leading the department to national accreditation, a very coveted award within the law enforcement field,” Cromie said. “Because of him, you will not find a better trained or more professional police department in New Jersey.”
According to Cromie, Capt. Christopher Chew, the department’s executive officer, will assume the acting chief’s position effective July 1.
Cromie expects the process to determine the next chief will begin in June and expects it to take approximately six weeks, but did not provide any further details.
“Evesham Township is a safer and more livable community because Chief Barth was at the helm of the department,” Cromie said. “I am grateful for our more than 25-year working relationship, but more than that, I am proud to call him a friend.”
