Passing of the Blue Torch: Manchester has new Police Chief, promotes several in department

There aren't enough great words to describe the impact retiring Manchester Township Police Chief Lisa Parker has had on law enforcement in town, in the county, the state and the country.

Parker's 32-years of service and dedication, kindness and leadership in law enforcement have been exemplary and the department is in great hands as Captain Robert M. Dolan Jr. has been promoted and was sworn in on Thursday as the new Police Chief in Manchester.

Several other promotions occurred within the department as well.

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It was 1993 when Chief Dolan began his career with MTPD as a dispatcher, became a full time Officer in 1994 and has served in numerous positions since that time rising up the ranks from Detective to Patrol Sergeant, Lieutenant supervising the Administrative Services Bureau and Captain overseeing the Division of Emergency Services.

Chief Dolan expressed his gratitude for the promotion and the support from his family, friends, the Mayor and Council after being sworn in Thursday by Manchester Mayor Robert Hudak.

“The trust the public has put in me weighs on me heavily. I promise I will not disappoint you,” Chief Dolan said at the ceremony.

Chief Dolan has led and accomplished a great number of things over the years in Manchester, according to the department, including in 2016 when he "managed the Spillman project, implementing a new Computer Aided Dispatch and Record Management System."

He also "was instrumental in the creation of the Emergency Services Division, which launched in March of 2020 and included the rehabilitation of two EMS Buildings, the hiring of EMS Director Robert Baran and a group of qualified EMTs, and purchasing and up-fitting ambulances and other equipment. The Division grew this year with the addition of career firefighters, which entailed a hiring process and the procurement of a fire truck and other critical firefighting equipment."

In addition to the promotion for Chief Dolan, there were many others in the department who have risen up the ranks with background below provided by Manchester Police.

Lt. Vincent Manco is now Captain Vincent Manco.

He started with Manchester Police in May of 1999 as a Patrolman, was promoted to Captain and has also served as a Detective and Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team member, Patrol Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant and Investigations Bureau Lieutenant.

As Lieutenant, Manco was assigned to the Administrative Services Bureau and is the first member in the history of the department to attend and graduate from the prestigious 10-week FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Captain Manco has received over 20 awards to date including the Medal of Honor, the department’s highest award.

Sergeant Antonio Ellis is promoted to Lieutenant.

Lt. Ellis has been with the department since 2000.

He is "an expert in the field of Traffic Safety who has served with the Manchester Township Police Department since 2000. He played an instrumental role in the upkeep and modernization of the department’s vehicle fleet."

Lt. Ellis has also earned the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award "which includes the Supervisory Leadership Institute, Command Leadership Institute and Executive Leadership Institute."

Detective Christian Nazario is promoted to Sergeant.

The Manchester resident since 1993 joined the department in 2007 and has gone from Police Explorer Advisor, Auxiliary Advisory and Field Training Officer up to Narcotics Enforcement Team Detective where "he was Team Leader for multiple operations including a wiretap that was the largest drug investigation in Ocean County."

Detective Danny Barker is promoted to Sergeant.

A 13-year veteran at the department has been a member of the Investigations Bureau as a Detective since 2013.

He served as Lead Evidence Custodian, Megan’s Law Liaison and Firearms Instructor as well as Platoon Leader of the North Platoon for the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, a role he has been in since 2018.

Patrolman Michael Gardner is sworn in as a full-time officer.

Gardner was hired by MTPD in 2019, resigned in 2020 "to pursue another law enforcement opportunity" and is now back and full-time.

"Ptl. Gardner was an exemplary officer during his initial employment and his return to service with the Manchester Township Police Department was welcomed by both the Police Department and Township administration."

Patrolman Richard Conklin and Patrolwoman Victoria Raub receive lateral assignments to the Investigations Bureau as Detectives.

Detective Conklin previously served in the department’s Community Affairs Unit and earned a Community Police Certification.

He has also served as a Field Training Officer, GREAT Instructor, and DARE Instructor.

Detective Raub has served as School Resource Officer and Juvenile Liaison Officer, most recently, "an important role where she built positive relationships with juveniles. She also taught the department’s #NotEvenOnce program and served as a Youth Academy Instructor."

Captain Manco said two Corporals designations were presented as well on Thursday "in recognition of many years of exemplary service as Manchester Township Police officers."

"The designation, proposed by the first Manchester Police recipient of the honor, the late Cpl. Scott Thompson, was introduced in 2016 and recognizes veteran officers with 20 or more years of service who consistently exhibit outstanding commitment to their department and profession."

Cpl. Christopher Walaszek, who has served in patrol since 1999 and acts as the department’s Law Enforcement Support Office liaison as well as Cpl. Brian Collins, who has served in patrol since 2000, received recognition on Thursday.