As the Certified School Safety Specialist and Security Manager for the Long Branch Public Schools, Walter J. O’Neill, Jr, leads a team of 38 safe school officers and dozens of event workers. He is also responsible for implementing and training and monitoring all emergency drills as required by the N.J.S. 18A:41-1.  As the Safe School Specialist (a state mandated position) Walter acts as the liaison with national, state and local law enforcement. He also works with community groups and agencies that work towards school security and safety. The Long Branch Board of Education appointed Walter as the Safe School Specialist on October 17, 2018. Walter holds a Master’s Certificate from Texas A&M on Infrastructure Protection.

Prior to joining the LBPS in 2003, Walter served as a police officer with extensive training as a Special Reaction Team (SWAT) member, and is a distinguished firearms expert and self-defense instructor. In 2015, Walter was inducted into the Police Self Defense Institute Hall of Fame and given a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Walter also holds a 6^th degree black belt in Shotokan karate and is a five time winner of the coveted All-American Award and a five time national champion. In 1995 he was named the USA Karate Federation’s Man of the Year for his tireless dedication and effort in gaining the sport of karate into the Pan American Games, the first step toward Olympic recognition. The USA National Karate Federation in 2015 inducted Walter into their Hall of Fame in four different categories; Athlete, Coach, Referee and Administrator. In 2019, he was presented with the USA Olympic Karate Pioneer Award as the sport of karate will be contested for the first time at the summer games in Japan (2021).