MONROE – It was standing room only as Police Chief Michael Lloyd gave his final farewell to the township he served for more than 31 years.
“It was an honor and privilege to come to work everyday,” he said, noting he enjoyed coming to work because the men and women of the Monroe Township Police Department made his job easy. “I spent more time with the people in the back of the room than my family. Now that I’m home, I’m trying to make up for some lost time.”
Among Lloyd’s family and friends, a sea of blue filled council chambers at a Township Council meeting on Aug. 5.
Lloyd added he also could not have asked for a better foundation with the support from the township.
“I truly appreciate everything,” he said.
Council President Stephen Dalina presented Lloyd with a plaque and read some of the highlights of Lloyd’s career. Lloyd knew he wanted to become a police officer after some police officers visited his high school.
In July 1988, Lloyd served as a police dispatcher in Monroe before he was hired as a patrolman in 1990. Eleven years later, he was promoted to sergeant and put in charge of the patrol squad; seven years later he was promoted to lieutenant in the administration division and in 2010 he was promoted to captain.
In 2011, Lloyd graduated from the 245th class of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He is the only officer from the department to graduate from the academy.
In 2013, Lloyd was sworn in as the fourth police chief in history of the Monroe Township Police Department and served as such until his retirement on June 30.
Dalina lauded Lloyd for all his years of service to the community.
“Your outstanding work ethic and professionalism set the tone for the rest of the department,” he said. “We also thank your wife Liz and sons Michael, Thomas and Jim for the sacrifices they all had to make. Most of all we all wish you happiness and success in your future endeavors.”
Mayor Gerald Tamburro said Lloyd has been a “stellar example for all the members of the township” and joked Lloyd now needs to keep busy or else he will go crazy at home. The mayor expressed gratitude to the chief’s family for sharing him with the township.
Police Captain Michael J. Biennas, a 32-year veteran of the Monroe Township Police Department, took over the reigns as chief on July 1.