Police Lt. Kevin Reading Jr. has been appointed to serve as the interim Lawrence Township police chief effective Jan. 1, 2025, following the retirement of Police Chief Christopher Longo.
Longo is retiring capping a 25-year career as a police officer. He is the ninth police chief in the Lawrence Township Police Department’s 100-year history. He was appointed to the top spot in 2022.
Municipal Manager Kevin Nerwinski announced Reading’s appointment as the interim police chief at the Lawrence Township Council’s Dec. 3 meeting.
“It was a really difficult decision,” Nerwinski told the Township Council. “I think Lt. Reading is ready for the task. He has my full support and I hope he has your support.”
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. The practice has been to promote from within the Lawrence Township Police Department.
The next testing cycle for police chief will occur in the first part of 2025, he said. The results will be sent to the township, and the police chief will be selected from among the top three candidates on the list.
In the meantime, an interim police chief will serve until a permanent police chief is chosen.
Reading, who will fill the interim police chief position through the first part of 2025, began his career in 2002 as a patrol officer with the Lawrence Township Police Department.
He served as a detective in the Investigation Division from 2008 to 2015.
Reading also served as a detective with the Mercer County Shooting Response Team from 2015 to 2018. The team is coordinated by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and the Trenton Police Department. He participated in more than 500 criminal investigations and was the lead detective in more than 60 cases.
Reading was promoted to sergeant in the Patrol Division in 2018, and to detective sergeant in the Investigation Division in 2021.
He was promoted to lieutenant in 2023.
During the course of his career, Reading received many Commendable Service awards and was honored as the Lawrence Township Police Department’s Officer of the Year in 2014.
