William T. Sommeling
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Commissioner William Sommeling was appointed to the Casino Control Commission by Governor Christine Todd Whitman in November, 2000. He served as vice chair during 2004. He was reappointed by Gov. Richard Codey in 2005 and currently serves as vice chair. His term expires in 2010.
Prior to joining the commission, he served as Undersheriff in Ocean County for 11 years and has more than 35 years of experience in law enforcement. As Undersheriff, Commissioner Sommeling was responsible for much of the day-to-day management and operation of the Sheriff's Office.
Commissioner Sommeling started his career in public service when he went to work for the city of Seaside Heights in 1955. He served in the Police Department there as patrolman, investigator, undercover agent and sergeant until 1967 when he moved to the larger Dover Township Police Department. He also rose to the rank of sergeant there after serving as a patrolman, detective, and investigator. He also was the department's planning officer and project director for several programs that were funded through state and federal grants. In both municipalities, he did extensive undercover work on narcotics cases. He was also assigned to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and served as the Deputy Director of the Ocean County Narcotics Bureau where he was in charge of all of its field operations.
After leaving the police department in 1981, Commissioner Sommeling held several positions in casino surveillance departments in Atlantic City. He was a surveillance shift supervisor and monitor room manager at the Claridge Casino Hotel in 1981-1982. He then joined the Tropicana Hotel Casino as assistant director of surveillance and was promoted to director of surveillance in 1984. He remained with Tropicana until 1989 when he was appointed Undersheriff in Ocean County.
Active in politics for years, Commissioner Sommeling was the president and chairman of the board of trustees of the Toms River Regular Republican Organization. He also has served as a member of the Dover Township Committee, chairman of the Dover Township Board of Adjustment and the Dover Township Municipal Utilities Authority and was a member of the Ocean County Utilities Authority and chaired its Administration Committee.
Commissioner Sommeling graduated from Trenton State College with a degree in criminal justice and received a masters in administration from Rider University. He also received an associates degree from Ocean County College, a certificate in Police Science and Administration from Temple University and completed post graduate courses at Cornell University and the University of Virginia. He also received professional training at the New Jersey State Police Academy, the FBI National Academy and the National Sheriff's Institute and attended numerous other courses offered by state and national law enforcement agencies. He also served in both the New Jersey National Guard and the United States Marine Corps Reserves. Commissioner Sommeling is or has been active in a number of professional and civic organizations, including: International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Sheriff's Association, Unites States Marine Corps League, New Jersey State PBA, Police Superior Officer's Association, American Society of Industrial Security, FBI National Academy Association, Lamda Alpha Epsilon, Toms River Yacht Club, Emerald Society of New Jersey and Ducks Unlimited.
Prior to joining the commission, he served as Undersheriff in Ocean County for 11 years and has more than 35 years of experience in law enforcement. As Undersheriff, Commissioner Sommeling was responsible for much of the day-to-day management and operation of the Sheriff's Office.
Commissioner Sommeling started his career in public service when he went to work for the city of Seaside Heights in 1955. He served in the Police Department there as patrolman, investigator, undercover agent and sergeant until 1967 when he moved to the larger Dover Township Police Department. He also rose to the rank of sergeant there after serving as a patrolman, detective, and investigator. He also was the department's planning officer and project director for several programs that were funded through state and federal grants. In both municipalities, he did extensive undercover work on narcotics cases. He was also assigned to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and served as the Deputy Director of the Ocean County Narcotics Bureau where he was in charge of all of its field operations.
After leaving the police department in 1981, Commissioner Sommeling held several positions in casino surveillance departments in Atlantic City. He was a surveillance shift supervisor and monitor room manager at the Claridge Casino Hotel in 1981-1982. He then joined the Tropicana Hotel Casino as assistant director of surveillance and was promoted to director of surveillance in 1984. He remained with Tropicana until 1989 when he was appointed Undersheriff in Ocean County.
Active in politics for years, Commissioner Sommeling was the president and chairman of the board of trustees of the Toms River Regular Republican Organization. He also has served as a member of the Dover Township Committee, chairman of the Dover Township Board of Adjustment and the Dover Township Municipal Utilities Authority and was a member of the Ocean County Utilities Authority and chaired its Administration Committee.
Commissioner Sommeling graduated from Trenton State College with a degree in criminal justice and received a masters in administration from Rider University. He also received an associates degree from Ocean County College, a certificate in Police Science and Administration from Temple University and completed post graduate courses at Cornell University and the University of Virginia. He also received professional training at the New Jersey State Police Academy, the FBI National Academy and the National Sheriff's Institute and attended numerous other courses offered by state and national law enforcement agencies. He also served in both the New Jersey National Guard and the United States Marine Corps Reserves. Commissioner Sommeling is or has been active in a number of professional and civic organizations, including: International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Sheriff's Association, Unites States Marine Corps League, New Jersey State PBA, Police Superior Officer's Association, American Society of Industrial Security, FBI National Academy Association, Lamda Alpha Epsilon, Toms River Yacht Club, Emerald Society of New Jersey and Ducks Unlimited.
