Message From the Chief

Bio

Chief Timothy O’Hara was officially promoted to Chief of Police on July 1, 2023.

He is the 7th Chief in the history of the Mahwah Police Department. Chief O’Hara is a highly decorated Patrol Division veteran with over 24 years of service with the Mahwah Police Department. Hired in January 1999 as a Patrol Officer, he was promoted to Sergeant in 2010 and then promoted again to Lieutenant in 2020.

During his tenure of over 13 years as a supervisor in the Patrol Division, Chief O’Hara was responsible for the Evidence Management System, Field Training Officer Program, Active Shooter Training Program, and Expungement Program. These assignments were all in addition to his primary responsibility as a Tour Commander. That alone entailed the supervision of a squad on rotating shifts, proper organization and assignment of duties, discipline, and morale, and fostering loyalty to the department. His innovative and forward-thinking mindset with these programs and on the road enhanced officer knowledge, growth, and safety which prepared these officers for real-world incidents and applications.

A Role Model Award recipient in the Police Academy, Chief O’Hara continued to lead by example both as an officer and a supervisor throughout his career. His Meritorious Service Medals awarded as an officer for subduing an armed and barricaded suspect in 2006 and then rescuing a pilot from a plane crash at the Sheraton Crossroads in 2009, illustrated his commitment to service. He will quickly point out that he never accomplished these things alone and always credits his fellow officers with each incident. As a Sergeant, along with his squad, they apprehended a bank robber and his accomplice as they attempted to escape in 2017. In grabbing a ballistic shield and leading his fellow officers toward the crashed vehicle after a brief pursuit, they arrested the bank robber and recovered a handgun and the money stolen from the bank. His squad was awarded a Unit Citation and he was awarded another Meritorious Service Medal for his actions. He credits the excellent teamwork displayed that day for the end result. These are a few highlights in a career dedicated to the service and protection of this Township. Chief O’Hara has always led by example and looks to continue to do so as the Chief of Police.

He is a member of the Mahwah Municipal Alliance; which is a group of community volunteers that are fortunate to partner with the Mahwah Police Department to provide important information and resources to its residents and youth that address critical social and mental health issues.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide and maintain, as much as is practicable, and given all available resources, a feeling of security and safety among all persons within our legal jurisdiction. It is critical that all members understand and support this mission. The mission forms our legitimate basis for existence and is the basis of our professional ethics, rules, regulations, operating policies, procedure, and practices.

The mission is functionally defined by the power established by legislated authority and demands for service from the public. It is the direct and ultimate responsibility of the administrative head to interpret public demands and, within budgeted resources, provide for the best possible delivery of services.

The nature of public safety and security forces is varied. Examples include, but are not limited to: equal, equitable and fair enforcement of laws; responding to calls for non enforcement services; active patrol; housing of prisoners; public relations contacts; and the personal demeanor, conduct, and image of our personnel on duty as well as off duty. These services and the perception we create while engaging in these services are functionally defined, made real, and ultimately judged by the nature of the activities we engage in as well as how we appear while engaged in such activities. In summary, our mission is to deliver a service as well as a perception of service, i.e., a feeling of safety and security.

The authority by which we operate and the granted resources we are provided with are an affirmation of the public’s trust. Each employee must be cognizant that the misuse or inefficient use of these resources leads to citizen apathy, alienation, and eventually the loss of public confidence.

Value Statement

In our conduct and personal relationships, we value:

• Interaction based upon honesty and mutual respect

• Integrity and ethical behavior at all times

• An appreciation for the rights and feelings of others

• Humility and a willingness to exercise fairness and impartiality toward all

• Loyalty, dedication, and a commitment to assume responsibility for our own actions

• Communication based upon a positive exchange of ideas and beliefs

• Resolution of differences through patience, negotiation, and acceptance of constructive criticism

In our professional performance, we value:

• Equal protection and service for all

• Responsiveness to the community through innovative practices and effective problem-solving

• Superior leadership through training, experience, teamwork, and the effective management of resources

• Flexibility adaptability, and a positive attitude toward change

• Loyalty and dedication to the law enforcement profession, the department, and the community we serve

• Ethical conduct, honest, and the unrelenting pursuit of excellence all we do

Vision Statement

The Mahwah Police Department is committed to providing high quality police services to the community through community partnerships, problem-solving strategies, innovation, creativity, adaptability to an ever-changing environment and a participative management style through highly trained and disciplined employees using the latest technology.

Furthermore, we recognize that our most valuable resource in this commitment is our people and we strive to create a positive working atmosphere where creativity and participation abound.