Capt. Joe Pica to replace the West Windsor police chief, who has led the department since 1980.
By: Gwen Runkle
WEST WINDSOR Frank Cox, the township’s chief of police since 1980, announced his retirement on Monday, to take effect Oct. 1.
New Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh promptly announced his selection of Capt. Joe Pica, a 27-year department veteran, to succeed Chief Cox.
"Chief Cox has been part of the very fabric of this community since joining former Chief Frank Maguire here in 1968 to work as patrolman and to establish with Chief Maguire what is certainly one of the state’s finest and most qualified police departments," the mayor said in a prepared statement. "With Frank’s retirement, he concludes a career in the municipal law enforcement field that has spanned nearly 40 years."
Chief Cox worked with the Princeton Township Police Department for six years prior to coming to West Windsor.
He said he feels the timing of his retirement furthers the opportunities for the new management team associated with Mayor Hsueh’s administration.
"We have a newly elected mayor and a newly appointed business administrator, and since my retirement is pending, it seems appropriate that a new chief of police should join the team," Chief Cox said in a prepared statement. "I believe the township will have three highly qualified people working together for the next four years to serve the residents of West Windsor Township."
Chief Cox served as interim business administrator from the time of Richard VanNoy’s retirement in June 2000 until Township Clerk Barbara Evans was appointed to the full-time position earlier this month.
Mayor Hsueh credited Chief Cox with moving the Police Department closer to the community with programs at the high school, community policing programs, the Youth Police Academy and the Citizens Police Academy.
"One of the most unique things that Frank has talked about is that in all of his 40 years, he has loved coming to work every day. How many people can say that?" Mayor Hsueh said after the formal announcement at Monday night’s Township Council meeting.
"This has been a very tough decision on Frank’s part," he added.
The mayor said Chief Cox recommended the appointment of Capt. Pica as chief in his letter of retirement.
"Joe has moved through the ranks from line officer, to supervisor, to administrator with competence and professionalism that has earned the respect of his co-workers and this administration," Mayor Hsueh continued in his statement. "Capt. Pica is well qualified to facilitate the development of this department to the next level of excellence in keeping with the evolution of this community."
Capt. Pica has been part of the Police Department since 1974 and became captain in 1998.
He said Monday night that although he has big shoes to fill, he has gotten valuable training while Chief Cox was serving as township administrator.
"He’s been running the department since I’ve been over here (as township administrator)," Chief Cox explained after the announcement. "If I didn’t have confidence in him, I would not have come over here. He’s ready."
After Oct. 1, Chief Cox said the only plan he has so far for his retirement is traveling to Florida in November with his wife, Christine. Other than that, he said, his plans are up in the air.
"I’ll probably volunteer at the Princeton Medical Center a couple days a week, go to the gym, play a little softball," he said.
Over the next three months, the Police Department will work to replace Capt. Pica, as well as a lieutenant and a sergeant, as ranks are shifted in the department, Chief Cox said. The department also has advertised for the opening of an officer’s position and testing for that position will be given Aug. 7.