'An Honor And A Privilege': Lacey Police Chief Retires After 25 Years Of Service

LACEY, NJ — After more than 25 years of dedicated service to the Lacey Township Police Department, Chief Christopher Kenny has retired.

Kenny was sworn in as chief three years ago; he was promoted to chief and Paul Sullivan, Jr. was promoted to captain after the two presented a unified vision for the department. Now, with Kenny's retirement, Sullivan was sworn in as the new chief of police.

"It's been an honor and a privilege to serve as part of this organization," Kenny said at the latest Lacey Township Committee meeting.

Kenny, a lifelong resident of Lacey, started his law enforcement career with the Beach Haven Police Department before coming home to Lacey in 2000. He has served in numerous roles throughout his career, including traffic safety, patrol division, patrol fleet management and emergency management coordinator.

"I can truly say that I had a great time being chief," Kenny said. "It was great."

Sullivan, another lifelong Lacey resident, is a third generation police officer. He joined the department in 2001 and similarly served in a variety of roles. He was promoted to captain in 2022 after he finished seventh in the state on the New Jersey Police Captain Civil Service exam.

Kenny said that without Sullivan as his captain, he wouldn't have been as successful as chief.

"I couldn't have a better captain," Kenny said. "I know the department is in good hands."

Sullivan emphasized the sacrifices police officers make in their careers and expressed his gratitude.

"I hold you guys to a high standard. I will continue to hold you guys to a high standard," he said. "On the converse, I expect you to hold me to a high standard, hold our command staff to a high standard."

Samuel Della Salla III was promoted to captain. He also grew up in Lacey and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps upon his high school graduation in 2000, serving four years active duty and rising to the rank of sergeant.

He worked at the Federal Bureau of Prisons before joining Lacey police in 2005 and spent nine years on the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team.

Della Salla thanked everyone he had worked with and said he would give the position everything he had.

"I couldn't be happier," he said.