Many years ago, the borough also relied on the Ocean County Sheriff's Department to patrol the streets overnight. But today, with a force of 11 full-time officers, South Toms River's estimated 3,900 residents don't have to wait very long if they call for police. Borough officers patrol the streets 24 hours a day, and the extra personnel has helped combat crime, Izatt said. It's still a busy little town, but the extra manpower has really helped. In 1996, the latest year for which information is available from the FBI, South Toms River's crime rate of 48.6 major crimes per 1,000 residents ranked this small borough 10th highest out of 32 Ocean County municipalities with police departments.
Major crimes are murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and theft.
South Toms River has not had a murder since 1986. The borough has the 31st highest crime rate out of 216 similar suburban towns in the state. For years, police have battled against street drug dealing, first in the Center Street neighborhood, and more recently, in the Center Homes area, located off Route 9. The program, developed by Attorney General Peter G. Verniero and the Division of Criminal Justice, calls for county prosecutors to identify areas where law-abiding people have been unable to banish brazen drug dealers. Millard established a Special Enforcement Zone in Center Homes last October, after residents complained about street drug dealing in their area.