By Maria Prato, Staff Writer
CRANBURY Police Chief Edward Kahler is ready to start his new life.
After two years as chief and 25 years as a member of the Cranbury Police Department, he is stepping down today, Friday, to take some long-delayed rest and relaxation.
”There were a lot of factors that went into this decision,” he said recently. “I had concerns about pension and finances. But I did have my 25 and decided now would be a better time than later.”
Chief Kahler was 12 when he first discovered what would be his calling. His uncle, a South River police officer, would entertain the young Kahler with stories of first aid calls and burglaries.
”He was always helping people, and he would tell me the calls he went on,” Chief Kahler said. “It was different every day and exciting, and that appealed to me.”
So it was no surprise to his family when Chief Kahler graduated from Middlesex County College with an associate’s degree in police administration in 1981 and a bachelor’s degree in police administration in 1983 from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey).
He started out in his hometown with the South Brunswick auxiliary police and went on to work for Middlesex County College for a short period. That was before a drive down Main Street in Cranbury in the mid-1980s changed the course of his career.
He saw then-Lt. Harry Kleinkauf he would later become chief standing on the porch of the old police headquarters building and decided to pick up an application and eventually was hired, serving in a number of roles over the years.
”We didn’t have detective bureau back then,” Chief Kahler said. “I went from doing school crossings to investigating crimes. I was never officially a detective, but I got to do all the same duties.”
Over the years, Chief Kahler has racked up his own share of stories while on duty, but one incident in the late 1980s stands out.
He responded to a call reporting an infant had stopped breathing. Chief Kahler arrived at the house and was able to clear the child’s airway, he said.
”It was very emotional,” Chief Kahler recalled. “The mother was very upset and very grateful after the baby started crying.”
He created the township’s crime prevention and Drug Abuse Resistance Education programs.
”On Cranbury Day, I get to see my DARE kids, and they all have their own kids in the schools now,” he said. “It’s a good feeling.”
Now that he’s retiring, Chief Kahler said he plans to throw away the alarm clock and may look into doing some light traveling and local volunteer work.
”I’m taking the summer off,” he said. “I’ve only had three real vacations in 25 years.”
He is planning to enjoy his time at home in South Brunswick, but he also expects to miss the job, Chief Kahler said.
”Without question, I’m going to miss the officers,” he said. “But with all the friendships I’ve made in town, I’m going to miss the people the most.”
