By Christina Whittington, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — James Monahan is the new chief of the East Windsor Police Department.
Mayor Janice Mironov administered the oath of office to Chief Monahan on July 1 with his wife, Denise, and sons, Andrew and Daniel, by his side, at East Windsor Municipal Court.
He was surrounded by East Windsor police officers as well as members of the East Windsor Fire Department and Rescue Squad.
Also in attendance were Deputy Mayor Perry Shapiro and East Windsor Council members Hector Duke, Mark Lippman, John Zoller and Alan Rosenberg.
Former East Windsor Police Chief Barry Barlow and outgoing East Windsor Police Chief William Spain, who retired June 30, were also in attendance.
”This is a very big day for East Windsor Township, a very big day for the East Windsor Township Police Department and, most personally, a very big day for James Monahan and his family to reach this tremendous pinnacle in his police career,” Mayor Mironov said. “As I indicated the day that I made the announcement, I am extremely excited and proud to administer the oath of office today to Lt. James Monahan as the next East Windsor Township chief of police. We are confident that Lt. Monahan brings to the position the highest level of skills, experience, intelligence, temperament and judgement, which will enable him to be a terrific chief of police and to continue the outstanding performance of our Police Department.”
Chief Monahan joined the East Windsor Police Department in July 1994 after serving six years with the Highland Park Police Department where he held the rank of police officer and detective.
During the course of his career with the East Windsor Police Department, Mr. Monahan has held the rank of detective and sergeant. He was promoted to lieutenant in January 2006.
”With 18 years in the East Windsor Police Department and prior to that six years with the Highland Park Borough Police Department, Lt. Monahan comes to this position today with an extremely wide breadth of law enforcement and related experiences, substantial training and credentials and a demonstrated skillful and thoughtful application in exercise of his background to the day to day policing, which he encounters, as well as overall department and community issues,” Mayor Mironov said.
During his career in law enforcement, Chief Monahan has been the recipient of many awards, including a Life Saving Medal, two Educational Achievement Awards, two unit citations and, most recently, an Honorable Service Award in January 2012.
He also has an extensive background of law enforcement certifications as well as police training.
Chief Monahan obtained his bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from Rutgers, magna cum laude. In May 2007, he obtained his master’s degree in labor and employment relations from Rutgers, summa cum laude.
”It is a special day for me,” the new chief said. “When things like this occur in your life, you realize that you do not get here all by yourself; you have help along the way.”
He expressed his gratitude to many people including the mayor, council members, colleagues, members of the volunteer fire departments and rescue squads, his former chief of police in Highland Park and his family and friends.
Chief Monahan also thanked Mr. Barlow and Mr. Spain.
”Chief Barlow, thank you again for hiring me,” Chief Monahan said. “You really set out and created a condition in this department. You staffed with incredible talented people, and Chief Spain continued that.”
Chief Monahan outlined some objectives he sees in the future of the Police Department.
”One of the things that Chief Spain and Chief Barlow emphasized in our department is professionalism and how to create an environment where professionalism grows,” he said. “One of the ways they did that was to emphasize education and training, and that is one of things that I will continue to encourage. It’s critically important, and I think what that does within a police department is really provoke a sense of professionalism and better services.”
Another objective Chief Monahan plans is finding new ways to improve and become more efficient.
”We will look at technologies and see what fits best for East Windsor going forward,” he said.

