Morgan Appointed Acting Police Chief

Lt. Christopher Morgan has been promoted to Acting Chief of the Princeton Township Police Department, following a unanimous vote by Township Committee on Monday.

“While Lt. Christopher Morgan has served admirably as senior officer in charge of the Princeton Township Police Department since March 30, the title of senior officer in charge reflects neither the responsibility nor the authority of the job that he is performing,” Township Committee Member Bernie Miller said.

“It is with this fact in mind, and recognizing the need to reestablish a command structure that can be readily understood within and outside of our Police Department, that I propose to Township Committee the appointment of Lt. Christopher Morgan to the rank of Acting Chief.”

Morgan has been leading the department since former Chief Robert Buchanan retired earlier this year.

Deputy Mayor Liz Lempert agreed, saying an Acting Police Chief will help with consolidation and ensure that a Township officer is among the leaders of the new police department,.

She said a member of Borough Council contacted her Monday and asked her to vote against the promotion.

Read: Police Staffing Sparks Questions about Collaboration

“The path to unity isn’t by shutting out one side or another, but by making sure that both sides are working together,” Lempert said. “Each department has different expertise, they can learn and share with each other.”

Township Committee Member Lance Liverman clarified that promoting Morgan is not a political maneuver.

“It is currently duty and oath to protect our citizens,” Liverman said. “We cannot turn our backs on our police, and we cannot turn our backs on our employees during this critical time.”

Resident Carol Golden of Snowden Lane applauded the decision.

“I feel really strongly in new consolidated Princeton, the police department should have representation at the highest levels from both the Borough and the Township,” Golden said. “It’s going to be a great move for Princeton and we appreciate all the work that the police do for us.”

Morgan graduated from the Trenton Police Academy in 1997.

In Princeton, he has served in the Patrol and Accreditation bureaus. He has served as patrol officer, corporal, sergeant and lieutenant.

In 2003, Morgan received the department’s honorable service award for coming to the aid of another officer.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in law and justice from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in human resources training and development from Seton Hall University. He graduated from the FBI’s Mid-Atlantic Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar and the FBI National Academy. He serves as vice president for the New Jersey Public Safety Accreditation Coalition.