Newton PD says farewell to two dedicated officers

The Newton Police Department on Friday, June 3, bid farewell to Lieutenant Scott King and Sergeant Thomas Tosti, who are both retiring.

Sergeant Tosti gave over 25 years of service to Sussex County, first being sworn in to the Stillwater Police Department in 1997 as a patrolman. In 2003, he transferred to the Newton Police Department to continue his career. In 2006, Tosti was assigned to the detective bureau as a school resource officer. According to the department, he was considered a major asset in bringing the “Safe Route to School” program to the district in 2007.

Tosti has also been the department’s Crime Prevention Officer and Community Policing Officer for many years, and helped to organize a variety of events, including the popular “Coffee with a Cop” event. On top of all those accomplishments, he also earned certifications as a field training officer, a radar instructor, D.A.R.E. instructor, as well as a LEAD instructor. Culminating his vast career was his promotion to sergeant in 2019.

In a final statement to their retiring sergeant, the department said, “Sgt. Tosti, it’s been an honor working with you over the years. Never forget the difference you have made, remember the past, enjoy the present and embrace the future. We want to thank you for your dedicated service to the Town of Newton. Best of wishes in retirement and all of your future endeavors – we got it from here.”

Lieutenant King was born and raised in Newton, and graduated from Newton High School in 1992. After school, he joined the U.S. Air Force, earning the rank of senior airman. In 1998, after his military service, he took a position with the Sussex County Sheriff’s Department. Then in 1999, he graduated from the New Jersey State Police Municipal Class. In all, he completed 2.5 years with the County Sheriff’s Department, some of which was dedicated to the Narcotics Task Force.

He moved over to the Newton Police Department in 2001, and started off in the patrol division, where he eventually earned numerous awards for his service, including the Franklin E. Sigler award. Then in 2014 he was promoted to the rank of sergeant, where he supervised and guided a squad of officers. And in June 2021, King was promoted to lieutenant. He was assigned to the Support Services Division, overseeing two patrol squads, 911 operators, crossing guards, computer and vehicle maintenance, and a variety of other tasks.

“A retirement ceremony is an indication of what years and years of hard work, devotion and commitment lead to. We hope you have a profound sense of pride today,” the department said in his retirement announcement. “Lieutenant Scott King, after 21 years of service with the Newton Police Department, we want to thank you for representing the department with professionalism and unsurpassed dedication to the Town of Newton.”