Former Toms River Police Chief Charged With Sexual Assault and Official Misconduct

(TOMS RIVER, N.J.) — A former Toms River fire chief was indicted on nine counts of sexual assault and official misconduct. 

Robert Sinnott Jr., 53, a former chief of the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company and retired Island Heights police officer, had 11 alleged victims who reported him. Most of these accusations came from firefighters. 

Photo Credit: Lee County Florida Jail / Robert Sinnott Jr.'s mugshot from his December 2025 arrest.

In December of 2025, Sinnott was charged with four counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact and one count of second-degree official misconduct. The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability launched an investigation and found more evidence of  “additional criminal conduct,” according to Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. 

On September 2, a state grand jury voted to indict Sinnott on earlier charges and five new counts of criminal sexual contact, official misconduct and pattern of official misconduct. The nine criminal counts relate to 11 victims of Sinnott’s alleged criminal acts. 

“The defendant held positions of trust and power within the communities he served and among his coworkers and subordinates in government,” Attorney General Davenport said, “But, as alleged in the indictment, he abused that trust again and again.” 

During the investigation, it was uncovered that Sinnott served in multiple supervisory roles at the SVFC, where he forced multiple other firefighters, who stated they saw Sinnott as a role model, into acts of nonconsensual sexual contact. This behavior was also allegedly occurring at the Island Heights Police Department, according to the Attorney General. 

Photo Credit: Silverton Volunteer Fire Company Facebook

It was alleged that Sinnott created situations to be alone with victims at various locations, including the firehouse and his residence in Toms River. Sinnott allegedly would handcuff victims under pretenses, claiming he needed their assistance with a police related training, or he would physically restrain them before forcing them into a sexual act. 

Sinnott was a police officer in Island Heights from 1998 to 2021 before joining the SVFC.

This is an ongoing story; OpGov.News will update as information becomes available. 

To add to or correct any information in this report or to share tips or a story, please contact me at alexis.n@lead4earth.org.