Toms River mayor bans Silverton EMS from first aid calls, cites 'financial irregularities'

TOMS RIVER - Mayor Daniel Rodrick has instructed fire and police dispatchers to no longer route calls to Silverton EMS, dealing a serious blow to a 60-year-old volunteer first aid squad.

Rodrick said he's been advised by "legal counsel that financial irregularities associated with Silverton EMS are potentially criminal."

Here is the mayor's full statement:

"We’ve been advised by legal counsel that financial irregularities associated with Silverton EMS are potentially criminal, and the matter is being referred to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office," Rodrick said in a prepared statement. "Given what we have learned, I had no choice but to take swift action. We have hired 17 more EMTs and put several additional ambulances on the road. Police Chief Mitch Little and EMS Supervisor Kevin Monaghan have assured me the recent increase in staff and ambulances will prevent any interruption in Emergency Medical Services. We will update the community as the investigation unfolds."

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The notice from Police Chief Mitch Little was posted on Silverton EMS' Facebook page , with a note that no reason was given for the change. "This is truly a vindictive and spiteful action towards not only our EMTs but Silverton community in general that has supported us for 60 years," a note on the EMS page reads. It urges residents to contact township council members to protest the change in dispatch rules.

Former Councilman Kevin M. Geoghegan, who serves as business administrator of the Silverton squad, said the organization is "exploring any an all avenues" of potential action to dispute Toms River's move.

"If there is something illegal, improper, etc., we should get in my car right now and we will go to the prosecutor's office," Geoghegan said. "I welcome any county, state or federal agency to come in. It's a pretty slanderous statement for a mayor to make."

Geoghegan said the only thing Silverton EMS gets from the town is "gas for the ambulances."

Rodrick said the township has more ambulances on the road "than ever before," and the decision to not dispatch Silverton EMS will not affect residents' safety.

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In 2018, then-Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher indicated in a letter that the township was replacing Silverton First Aid Squad with township ambulances after Toms River and Silverton were unable to reach an agreement with the squad to provide services.

"As of now, a change of policy by the leadership of the Silverton First Aid Squad has created a serious problem for the township," Kelaher wrote to property owners at the time. "The money paid to the squads was split evenly with the township in return for the township's expenditure for costs and operations of the squads such as fuel, maintenance and supplies as well as providing CSO (community service officer) backup when first aid squads are not available. This 50/50 agreement is in effect with all of the first aid squads in Toms River, except Silverton."

At the time, Kelaher noted that the Silverton squad was no longer a volunteer organization as it paid members for responding to calls.

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Geoghegan said that the squad has not relied on the township's support since then and instead found "a way to be innovative, to not only fund the organization but to serve the community," by doing its own billing.

The Silverton squad was founded by Geoghegan's parents, Joseph G. "Jerry" and Jane Geoghegan. Jerry Geoghegan was also a former township committeeman and mayor in the 1990s.

Jean Mikle covers Toms River, Seaside Heights and several other Ocean County towns. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Toms River mayor bans Silverton EMS from first aid calls, cites 'financial irregularities'