Samuel Britton Sr. Created Legacy As Berkeley's 1st Police Chief

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ — More than 60 years after Samuel R. Britton Sr. took command of a small group of police officers to ensure the safety of Berkeley Township and its residents, the township is mourning the passing of its first chief of police.

Britton died Nov. 3, surrounded by his family and friends, in the town where he was born and raised. He was 90 years old, according to his obituary on the Mastapeter Funeral Home website.

Britton, who served in the U.S. Army, became Berkeley's first police chief in 1954, when the township and Ocean County were still very much rural, "and built the Berkeley Township Police Department into to a large , modern progressive and professional agency," Police Chief Karin DiMichele said. Britton, who also helped to found the Bayville Fire Department in the early 1950s, created a legacy of service and dedication to the community that continued after he retired from the police force in 1984.

That legacy is reflected not only in the naming of the Berkeley Township Police Department headquarters in his honor — the building bears his name as the Samuel R. Britton Law Enforcement Center — but also in the many members of his family who serve or have served in law enforcement throughout the county and state.

Among them, DiMichele said, are his brother, Lt. James Britton of the Berkeley force; his son, Detective Samuel Britton Jr. (retired) of the Manalapan Police Department; his grandson, Detective Joseph Chester of the Ocean County Sheriff's Department; his nephews and niece, Lt. Anthony Kurnel (retired) of Berkeley, Lt. Colleen Britton of Stockton University police, Sgt. David Britton (retired) of Berkeley, Sgt. James Britton (retired) of Berkeley, Sgt. Kenneth Burton (retired) of Berkeley, and New Jersey State Trooper James Kurnel (retired).

"Chief Britton lived a long life of service and dedication to his community. Chief Britton and his family can rest easy in the knowledge that his legacy will be carried on by every officer that walks through our doors and wears our badge," she said, "a badge molded in time, honor and tradition from our first Police Chief Samuel R. Britton. Godspeed, Chief."

Britton is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lillian "Babe" Britton; three children, Samuel R. Britton Jr. and his wife, Lynne; Sharon "Sis" Chester and her husband, Joe Sr., and Richard Britton and his girlfriend, Jenn; and three grandchildren, Joseph Chester Jr., Richard Alan Britton and Hannah Jean Britton. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 6 and 7.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Chief Britton's memory to Popcorn Park Zoo, 1 Humane Way, Forked River, NJ 08731 or at ( ahscares.org ), would be appreciated, the obituary said.

Police Chief Samuel R. Britton Sr., photo published with permission