At 16-years-old, Michael Polaski began his time in public service by joining his hometown’s first aid squad as an EMT in Lacey Township.
Now, 33 years later, Polaski is ending another phase as a public servant—he has announced his retirement as chief of the Robbinsville Police Department effective Dec. 31.
Polaski has served Robbinsville for almost 26 years. The 49-year-old began his police career at 18 years old when he was offered the opportunity to be a special officer for the Lacey Township Police.
After doing that for a year, Polaski he attened and graduated from the Police Academy, earning his certification. Polaski then worked for the Point Pleasant Police Department for 4 years.
“I quickly realized that I wanted to be a police officer because I was helping people and interacting with the Lacey Township Police Department all the time,” Polaski said.
In 1999, Polaski was hired to work for the Robbinsville (then Washington Township) Police Department as a patrolman. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2003 and then Lieutenant in 2009. In 2016, Polaski was named Administrative Lieutenant and Office of Emergency Management Coordinator. In January of 2022, Polaski was named chief of police.
“Becoming chief of police was a goal of mine that I had set at a very young age,” Polaski said. “I was promoted through the ranks relatively quickly.”
Throughout his time serving the Robbinsville community, Polaski has overseen various changes in the town. As chief, he expanded the SAFE Team for members of the Robbinsville community with autism or communication disorders.
Additionally, through the expansion of the Chaplain Program, Polaski provided a vital tool to comfort families and individuals suffering from the various traumas associated with tragedy and loss.
“We’re developing deep roots in our community and making these relationships as opposed to an adversarial relationship where we’re constantly pulling people over or making arrests (which are still important),” Polaski said.
Over the past few years, the law enforcement field has seen a decrease in applicants.
According to Polaski, the Robbinsville Police Department used to average nearly 100 applicants for each hiring process, but only averages less than 30 in most cases.
“We’re still finding qualified applicants, we just don’t have as many,” Polaski said. “Where we had 100 people applying, I would find 10 people I would want to hire but I could only hire one. Now we find one or two out of the 30. It’s just always nicer to have a larger, more diverse pool of applicants.”
In Polaski’s opinion, much of the decrease in interest in the field has to do with the portrayal of the police force in news coverage.
“I think most of it is the negative attention the profession gets from the media,” he said. “Some of it is certainly warranted, but just like any other profession there’s a certain percentage that are not good,”
He added: “I think law enforcement suffers from that, and the media doesn’t report that the police around America had millions of transactions with the public today that went really well.”
With that said, Polaski believes that law enforcement always has room for improvement.
“Certainly, law enforcement has tons of room to make improvement, and I believe has made massive improvements,” Polaski said. “We have made those deeper community engagements and connections.”
One of Robbinsville Police Department’s newest initiatives is merging and sharing facilities with the Hightstown Police Department into one building.
The two towns have a shared services agreement to operate out of a new police station and municipal court.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for both communities, and I think both communities will realize some savings and some additional efficiency when it comes to equipment that we can share and spaces that we can share,” Polaski said.
This is a fairly brand new and rare initiative for agencies in New Jersey, and in Polaski’s opinion it will bring the community together.
“We have a great working relationship with our partners in Hightstown,” Polaski said. “I think at the end of the day, after some growing pains, it will be a very good thing for both communities.”
Making connections with the Robbinsville residents was one of the most important aspects of Polaski’s career. Reflecting on his memories and experiences, Polaski said he cherishes the opportunity to meet both of the Swami’s from the BAPS Temple, which located in town. The religious site is the second-largest Hindu temple in the world.
“I had the opportunity to go to the very top of the temple and sign my name on the granite with some of the other politicians and community leaders,” Polaski said. “I have a really special spot in my heart for that community.”
Polaski currently lives with his wife and two sons in Point Pleasant. Post retirement, he plans to keep in touch with people in Robbinsville as much as possible, despite the distance.
“I still have really, really great relationships with a lot of people in the community,” Polaski said. “I hope to be able to keep in touch with them through the years.”
Looking back on his career, Polaski hopes to leave behind a legacy of a more professional agency than when he was appointed the position.
“I think we have made big improvements, and our community engagement has been ramped up throughout my tenure,” Polaski said.
In October, the police department earned full accreditation from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. The program establishes that the agency is doing best practices type of work, which protects them from liability as well as increasing professionalism. This will be the last of Polaski’s career and will be a part of his legacy.
Polaski encourages anyone interested in serving their community to join law enforcement.
“I think law enforcement is one of the most noble professions and it is a very worthy profession,” Polaski said. “If you like helping people and you want to be a part of the community, it is a wonderful profession.”
Robbinsville Police Chief Michael Polaski will retire at the end of December.,
