County’s First Female Police Chief Looks Forward to Post
By GARRETT STASSE
Karen Sullivan should have few problems in her transition from police captain in Chatham to chief in Interlaken.
But she will face challenges unique to Interlaken and its place in eastern Monmouth County.
Sullivan was scheduled to be sworn in this week as Interlakens police chief. She is the countys first female chief.
Morris Countys Chatham is larger, with a 2006 population of 8,390, compared to Interlakens 900. Chatham is 2.4 square miles; Interlaken is .4 Chatham was spun off from a larger town, as was Interlaken, and being in Morris County, it has no beach nearby.
Sullivan, a Brick Township resident of many years, has parents in Seaside Park, living in a Victorian a few blocks from the beach. She understands summer crowds and the issues they bring. She also knows officers in departments around the county and in the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office and county Sheriff Kim Guadagno, who have filled her in on some aspects of life here, she said.
She spent more that 23 years as a police officer up north.
I see it as a challenge and an opportunity, she said. I firmly believe I can handle this because my background prepared me for it, she said on Monday.
Shes held tough jobs in Chatham: traffic, training, hiring and internal affairs. She has a masters degree, numerous citations and appears to have successfully navigated the sometimes rough-and-tumble world of law enforcement, from patrolling to administration and all the politics that come with it.
Sullivan graduated Summa cum Laude from Seton Hall University with a masters degree in Human Resources and Training; has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Jersey City State University; is certified as a Certified Law Enforcement Executive by the N.J. State Chiefs of Police association, and is a graduate of the West Point Command and Leadership Program. She is on the Executive Board of the N.J. Women in Law Enforcement.
Her first challenge is one she said she most looks forward to: rebuilding the Interlaken department and restoring its reputation for service and community orientation. She said she plans to listen carefully to residents and bring the most successful programs from Chatham here.
Im not concerned with what happened in the past because I dont know first hand what happened. My focus is to bring pride back to the police department, and Im looking forward to it, she said.
She will acclimate herself, and then put her stamp on things. First will come a program where senior citizens call in the morning. No call, an officer will check on them. She is also considering a service for summer residents to keep their properties secure, she said.
Im not about reinventing the wheel. I will be about customer service. I want the people of Interlaken to know when they call were there. Whatever concerns they will have well address them.
Sullivans confident shell succeed. Her contacts here and knowledge of the region, coupled with her background and experience, should make for a smooth transition.
Ive done all I can do in Chatham at my present rank. With my training and responsibilities, I want the responsibility. I know the journey that lies ahead will have many new challenges but collectively the department will overcome each of them and grow stronger.
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