By DON STINE
Neptune’s first African-American Acting Deputy Police Chief was sworn in on Dec. 21 after the police department was without a deputy chief for four years.
Police Captain Larry Fisher, one of three captains considered for the promotion, has been on the force for 28, with 18 of those years in a supervisory role. Fisher, 59, grew up in Neptune and started with the police department in 1988. His promotion went into effect on Jan. 1.
New Mayor Nicholas Williams, who was sworn-in as mayor on Jan. 1, said he believes Fisher “is a great choice.”
He said that all three captains interviewed for the promotion “brought their own qualities and personalities to the table.”
“We scored all three captains and Fisher finished first. There has been no deputy chief in four years and promoting Fisher helps fill a gap in the daily operations and we feel this move is necessary give the chief added support in running the police department,” he said.
Fisher is the first major personnel recommendation made by the township’s newly-formed
police committee. He was unanimously approved by the Township Committee and has an annual salary of $153,929
The new police committee is chaired by Barry Colicelli, a former Newark police captain, and also includes Committeeman Michael Brantley and Mayor Nicholas Williams. Creating the new police committee eliminated the Police Director position, formerly held by township CFO Michael J. Bascom for the past four years.
It was the police committee’s decision to create the acting deputy chief position and Fisher’s title remains “acting deputy chief” as the committee reviews the police department’s structure and operating procedures.
Brantley said Fisher’s promotion has “rank and file support” in the police department.
