Message to the South Brunswick Community From Chief Raymond J. Hayducka
After 38 years in law enforcement, including the past 21 as your Chief of Police, I have reached the time to retire. Today marks my final day in uniformed service to the great Township of South Brunswick. While this decision is bittersweet, I leave with deep gratitude, pride, and appreciation for the privilege of serving this community.
It has been the honor of a lifetime to work alongside the dedicated men and women of the South Brunswick Police Department. Our sworn and civilian members represent the very best of law enforcement. Each day, they demonstrate professionalism, integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to protecting and serving our residents. I have been incredibly fortunate to lead such an outstanding group of public servants. I am confident the department will continue to serve this community with excellence for many years to come under the leadership of the soon-to-be Chief of Police James E. Ryan. A proud Township resident who raised his family here, he is deeply committed to this community and to making the agency even stronger.
During my career, our community faced extraordinary challenges. We stood together through Hurricane Sandy, navigated the uncertainty of a global pandemic, and confronted periods of social unrest that tested communities across our great nation. These events challenged us in many ways, but they also revealed the character and resilience of this great Township. Through compassion, respect, and a shared commitment to one another, we emerged stronger, more resilient, and more united. Those experiences reinforced my belief that the strength of a police department depends not only on the dedication of its officers and civilian staff, but also on the trust and partnership it shares with the people it serves. Sir Robert Peel, the Father of modern policing, said, “The police are the public, and the public are the police”. There is no better example of that than South Brunswick Township. Our partnership is a model for what the relationship between a community and its police department should be. We are true partners, and we keep the community safe together.
To the residents, businesses, schools, community organizations, and Township employees of South Brunswick, thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and unwavering support throughout my career. Effective policing is built on strong relationships, and I have always valued the confidence you have in our department. Together, we have helped keep South Brunswick one of the safest and most welcoming communities in New Jersey, and I am proud of all we have accomplished.
I also extend my sincere appreciation to the Mayor and members of the Township Committee, past and present, and our Township Manager, Bryan Bridlack, for their leadership, guidance, and steadfast support of the Police Department. Your commitment to
public safety has enabled our officers to provide the highest level of service to the community. I have said many times that every Chief of Police and agency should have the support we receive from the Mayor and governing body. Your commitment to the police department has paid dividends, helping make South Brunswick one of the safest communities in New Jersey and a desirable place to live and raise a family.
Finally, to the current and retired men and women of the South Brunswick Police Department, thank you for your professionalism, dedication, sacrifice, and support. It has been the privilege of my career to serve alongside each of you. The accomplishments we have celebrated over the years reflect your hard work, commitment, and unwavering devotion to this community.
Serving as your Chief of Police has been the greatest professional honor of my life. I will always cherish friendships, partnerships, and memories during my career while serving this great community. Although I am retiring from this role, South Brunswick will remain my home. I plan to stay involved and continue to advocate for this police department and the Township.
Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving this remarkable community. It has truly been the honor of a lifetime.
Sincerely,
Raymond J. Hayducka
Chief of Police
