Police Chief Christopher Longo is retiring from the Lawrence Township Police Department, effective Jan. 1, 2025.
Longo announced his retirement on Nov. 15. He has served as police chief since 2022, capping a 25-year career as a police officer. He served as the police chief during the Lawrence Township Police Department’s 100th anniversary this year.
Municipal Manager Kevin Nerwinski said he expects to decide on the new police chief by Dec. 2. The municipal manager is responsible for appointing the police chief under Lawrence Township’s Council/Manager form of government.
Lawrence Township follows New Jersey Civil Service Commission guidelines in appointing a police chief, Nerwinski said, noting the township has always promoted from within the Lawrence Township Police Department.
“I am committed to selecting someone from our police department to take on this leadership role,” Nerwinski said.
Longo said that serving the Lawrence Township community as the police chief has been the biggest honor of his career as a police officer.
“Making the decision to retire to pursue another career path has been the most difficult decision I have had to make,” he said. “I truly love the Lawrence Township community and the members of the police department.”
Longo is the ninth police chief in the Lawrence Township Police Department’s 100-year history. He succeeded former Police Chief Brian Caloiaro, who retired in 2022.
Longo, who is a lifelong Lawrence Township resident, graduated from Lawrence High School in 1993. He began his career with the police department in 1999 as a police dispatcher.
After graduation from the police academy in 2000, he was assigned to the patrol division. He was reassigned to the detective bureau in 2004 and was promoted to sergeant in 2008. He was then promoted to lieutenant in 2018 and to police chief in 2022.
“As chief of police, I have done my best to build strong relationships, engage the community and provide a level of police service that our residents can be proud of, depend on and trust,” he said.
Longo said he is satisfied that those goals have been met under this leadership.
Longo praised the police officers and the professional support staff. The quality of service provided by the police department over the past few years is a direct result of the men and women who serve in uniform, he said.
“These heroes are some of the most knowledgeable, compassionate and dedicated law enforcement officers in the business,” he said. “I am so proud of them and the work they do every day.”
Longo thanked Nerwinski and the Township Council for their trust and support, allowing him to lead the police department.
Nerwinski in turn praised Longo for his leadership.
“Chief Longo has done an amazing job as chief,” he said. “We are all sad to see him leave, but happy for him to select retirement on his terms and at the right time for him. We worked very well together, and he had my trust completely.”
Longo also acknowledged the “great” relationship and support that he received from Robyn Klim, the superintendent of schools for the Lawrence Township Public Schools.
Over the course of his career, Longo has won numerous departmental awards, including the Supervisor of the Year award in 2016.
Longo has been awarded five Commendable Service awards, one Meritorious Service award and one Life-Saving award.
He is a graduate of the FBI-Mid Atlantic Law Enforcement Executive Development program and the Police Academy Institute of the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police.
Earlier this year, Longo received the New Jersey Civil Service Commission Certified Public Managers certification from Rutgers University.
