By: | October 17, 2024 | | Monmouth County
By Emma Sylvia
Freehold Township Police Chief George Baumann has had a long and illustrious career. A New Jersey native, he was born in Elizabeth and grew up in Roselle. He and his family moved down to Freehold Township when he was 17 years old. From there, he opted to join the Marine Corp in 1980 following his high school graduation. He served for four years, being honorably discharged in 1984. His true aspiration, however, was always to be a police officer. He had joined the Marine Corp as a military policeman specifically to advance his soon-to-be career. Chief Baumann said, “It was something I had always dreamed of since I was 15 years old.”
In 1984, Baumann worked construction while taking tests in different cities in order to procure a job as an officer. However, he was always drawn back to Freehold, saying, “I liked the area, I liked the town. It was special to be a police officer in Freehold.” He was hired in August of 1986, and for the next 12 years he worked in the patrol division at Freehold Township, primarily patrolling and taking calls.
In 1998, he was assigned as a detective, working in that capacity until 2002, when he was promoted to Detective Sergeant, serving in the detective bureau until 2006, when he was then promoted to Commander Lieutenant, being reassigned to the patrol division. Until 2009, he was a Watch Commander, before being assigned to Detective Lieutenant. In 2016, he was promoted to Patrol Captain, and finally, in February of 2020, he was promoted to the Chief of Police position.
After being promoted on February 1, within a month the pandemic was quickly upon the country. Baumann recounts, “It was a new experience, running an 80-man department, running an issue no one had ever dealt with before.” It has been more than four years since then, however, and Baumann wouldn’t change a thing about his career path.
When asked about a title or time period that stands out the most, Baumann has an immediate answer. Despite his lofty position now, Baumann considers his role of sergeant being the title of his career that is one of the most discernible and crucial. He elaborates, “This was the first time I’m not only responsible for myself but responsible for a group of men and women who are traveling out on the road.” He tells his current sergeants that while this was one of the most important steps in his career, it was also one of the most challenging.
Baumann’s job isn’t without its rewards. He says he values the mentorship aspect above all. The department has experienced excellent growth in the past few years, and luckily for Baumann, the township committee and mayor have been very supportive of the department, especially in the era of the pandemic, when things have had to slow down. Baumann remarks that the new officers of today’s age are better trained and more disciplined. He remarks, “Back when I was younger, they gave you a badge; but we were lacking in certain equipment and training.” He elaborates that today, the newer officers are better capable with de-escalating situations. Once, officers were more hands-on; today, when Baumann watches his officers deal with subjects who are at risk, he sees how the job has evolved over the years. “It’s a learning experience for me when I watch them,” he says, fondly.
As Chief, he makes decisions for the future – not just for himself, but for the entire department. While it seems like the less glamorous part of the job, he acknowledges that the financial decisions and budgeting tasks that come with being Chief are some of the most difficult aspects of the job.
“My job, really, is to prepare the department for the future for when I retire, and make sure that everything is in line. It’s about having a vision for the future.”
He looks to the past, however, for the most memorable experience that he can recount.
“In 2011, on my own, I responded to Haiti after the earthquake. Three hundred thousand people lost their lives. I flew into Chicago and then flew into Haiti — two trips over 25 days. I did that on my own time; but I think because I was a police officer, I thought I could help. That’s something I’m very proud of.”
Baumann believes that when his time as a detective was when he had the biggest impact on individuals. The township had a program for those who committed minor infractions, which aimed for rehabilitation rather than punishment. He explains, “I’ll be off duty, and I’ll have someone come up to me — and I’m always taken aback — when it turns out they were a kid that I had helped.”
Baumann acknowledges that work is nearly always at the top of his priority list. It is not just his vision for the future of the department, though — his retirement is on the horizon. “I’ve been working for 38 years,” he says, “and I’m 62 years old. I had thought about leaving earlier and pursuing something else, but I really enjoy the job.”
While loving his job, Baumann is ecstatic at the possibility of spending more time with his family post-retirement.
“I have three children. My daughter, Jenna, who is a first grade teacher in Freehold Township, my older son, George came onto the force in 2014 and is a sergeant, and my younger son, Jonathan, went on the same path as me in the Marine Corp and then as a police officer.” He lovingly acknowledges his wife, Janice, who worked for the Department of Environmental Protection for 38 years and retired in 2016. “I recall her taking [the kids] to family gatherings, and I wasn’t there because I had to work. We’ve been married for 37 years.”
Aside from chasing his hobbies — which include common interests like boating and more unusual ones, such as keeping honey bees — he lists spending time with Janice to be the thing that he’s looking forward to the most. Joyously, his family is due to grow, though, with a granddaughter arriving soon.
“That’s something new I’m not used to, but it’s going to be something special. The closer it gets, the more excited I get. I’m getting really psyched. It’s going to be something great.”
Despite retirement on the horizon, Baumann can only speak of his job fondly, through all the highs and lows.
“I would have never changed a thing about what I did in my career. Someday, the age factor will come in where I have to leave. I’ll be ready by then.” He smiles and adds, “But I’m in no rush.”