ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS –“The borough residents must know that just because I became chief it does not mean I stop trying to make myself, the department or the borough better. It’s an investment into all three aspects to better the borough as a whole.”
So said Police Chief Scott Reinert after he was one of only five police executives to receive the New Jersey State ACE (Accredited Chief/Command Executive) certification from the NJSACOP AE Program earlier this month.
The prestigious certification lasts for three years, after which he must once again show he has maintained the training and leadership standards he showed to earn the initial certification.
In accomplishing this latest goal, Reinert becomes one of only one-third of state police chiefs to be so certified. That also equates to the borough becoming one of fewer than 30 per cent of the municipalities in the state with a certified command executive.
In order to achieve accomplishments this far, Reinert underwent peer reviews conducted by NJSACOP Accredited Chief /Command Executive (ACE) Program for Reinert, working towards this goal and many others he has also achieved, began with earning his college degree in business administration from Iona College, paying the $275 fee and completing a ten-month program at Rutgers University which included weekly classes. That program, at Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration gave him the title of Certified Public Manager. Though not a requirement, Reinert also volunteered as the department’s Accreditation Manager in the last Accreditation cycle.
But for a chief dedicated to continuing to improve every aspect of police protection and enforcement possible, “the most difficult part is yet to come. Staying up on the training will be the most difficult part. Our department does training, training and more training to stay up on the latest and greatest in policing. Also with the approval comes the mandate to complete additional courses annually to maintain the status he has set. He has already begun completing the required training for this year, and sees that accomplishing this an aid to staying on top of policy, procedures, and the latest case law involving police.
Chief Reinert began his law enforcement career as a Special Officer Class II with the Sea Girt Police Department in 2007. In April of 2008, Atlantic Highlands hired him as a full time Dispatcher and in January of 2009, as a Police Officer.
After graduating the Monmouth County Police Academy, he was assigned to the Patrol Division. In April of 2015, Reinert was promoted to Sergeant. Four years later, he was assigned as Detective Sergeant and In July 2021, was promoted to Captain. Reinert was promoted to chief March 1, of last year.
During the course of his career, Reinert has held assignments as the Megan’s Law Unit Supervisor, Special Events Coordinator, Budget Coordinator, Internal Affairs Supervisor, Training Coordinator, and Accreditation Manager. He is a graduate of the F.B.I. Leadership Executive Development Program and is a Certified Public Manager through that class he took at Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration.
The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) is a professional membership organization serving New Jersey’s law enforcement and private security executives. Our core mission is to promote and enhance the highest ethical and professional standards in law enforcement at all levels throughout New Jersey.
The NJSACOP ACE Certification Program directly encourages New Jersey’s law enforcement executives to attain sanctioned benchmarks in pursuit of a recommended standard for police leadership that are measurable and attainable. By offering proof of these standards to NJSACOP Assessors, individual police leaders can attain NJSACOP Accredited Chief/Command Executive (ACE) Certification Status.
NJSACOP ACE Chairman, Chief Stephen Beecher stated: “The ACE Certification Program is in keeping with the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, the 21st Century Report and Recommendations on Policing and the state association’s declared philosophy; the Certification Program measures essential proofs in three areas for the ACE and ACE-COP Certification, and in five areas for the ACE-COP Advanced Certification. If it is merited, NJACOP awards individual leadership accredited status based on those appraisals. The ACE Program also promotes and encourages continued education through ACE Re-Certification Program requirements.” It is the policy of the NJSACOP to promote professional competence, continued education and career development among all members of law enforcement and in particularly among our leaders. In order to achieve this goal, the NJSACOP encourages current, future, and retired chiefs and police executives to participate in the ACE Certification Program, Beecher continued.
Reinert is highly respectful and appreciative of all the certificates he has earned throughout the years, but is even more quick to repeat his thanks to prior chiefs and administration who saw the benefit of training. He also expresses thanks on a regular basis to the community for the support and their trust in the department. “Our officers go above and beyond to provide safety and security to all members of the borough,” the Command Executive said. “I thank them all so much and their support means a lot to all of us.”
In adding his own appreciation to Reinert’s accomplishments, Borough Administrator Robert Ferragina pointed out that there was no requirement for the police chief to take on the added challenge of gaining the certification. “The Chief decided to pursue this and I supported it 100%. It’s a positive thing for the Chief and for the Borough.”
