The Hillsborough Township Police Department will be headed by a new chief of police.
Hillsborough Police Department’s Lieutenant Michael McMahon was named the sixth Chief of Police, effective Aug.1, for the township.
The decision to promote McMahon came at a July 9 township committee meeting. An official swearing-in for the new police chief will be held at the Aug. 13 committee meeting.
Lieutenant McMahon joined the Hillsborough Township Police Department 22 years ago. He was appointed to corporal in 2009 and promoted to sergeant in 2015 and to lieutenant in 2017. McMahon has completed several leadership courses through the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police.
He has also supervised multiple divisions throughout his tenure in the department and has most recently served as the Patrol Division Commander.
“As always, an extensive interview process is conducted and once again we are able to promote from within to this most significant position within the Township,” Hillsborough Township Mayor Frank DelCore said. “We look forward to the official swearing-in at the August 13 meeting.”
McMahon became a certified Police Academy Instructor in 1999, certified Traffic Accident Reconstructionist and was a member of the Somerset County Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Team from 1998-06.
In addition to being a recipient of the CPR Life Saving Award in 2003, he is also the recipient of many letters of appreciation and commendations.
McMahon will succeed retiring Police Chief Darren Powell, who dedicated approximately four years of service as chief for Hillsborough Township.
Moments after a reosltuion was passed by the township committee members to approve the promotion for the new police chief, Hillsborough Township Deputy Mayor Doug Tomson expressed his gratitude for Chief Powell’s service as well as his anticipation for McMahon’s new role in the township.
“It’s been an honor to work with [Chief Powell] over the last couple of years,” Tomson said. “He is extremely dedicated, and it will be very sad to see him leave the township. I look forward to seeing what he does in the future, but we have been well served for having him for our fifth police chief Darren Powell. We have been blessed in this municipality to have him.
“Lieutenant [McMahon] has extremely big shoes to fill and you know that, but I’m sure that you are extremely capable, and I’m glad that [he is] going to be our sixth chief for Hillsborough,” he added.