Lawrence Township Police Chief Brian Caloiaro is set to retire Sept. 1, capping a 28-year career in law enforcement.
A new police chief, who will come from within the Lawrence Township Police Department, is expected to be appointed by the end of August, Municipal Manager Kevin Nerwinski said. The new police chief will start work Sept. 2.
“It has been an absolute honor to work with Brian for these past five and half years (that he has served as police chief),” Nerwinski said.
“We share the principle that police officers must be held to the highest standard. Throughout his career, Brian has never compromised on that. I thank him for his service.”
Caloiaro joined the Lawrence Township Police Department in 1994 upon graduation from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He grew up in Lawrence and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1990.
The police chief rose through the ranks, earning promotions to sergeant in 2001 and to lieutenant in 2014. He was named captain in January 2018 and was sworn in as the Lawrence Township Police Department’s eighth police chief in August 2018.
He also holds the distinction of being the Lawrence Township Police Department’s first school resource officer. He was assigned to Lawrence High School and Lawrence Middle School, where he worked to develop a positive relationship with faculty, staff and students.
Caloiaro grew up in a family of police officers. His father retired as a lieutenant with the New Jersey State Police, and his uncle retired from the Lawrence Township Police Department.
His brother, Scott Caloiaro, is a retired Lawrence police sergeant and his brother, Joseph Caloiaro, is a Lawrence police lieutenant.
Caloiaro said that while he knew he did not have to follow in his father’s footsteps, he still wanted a career in law enforcement. He took the state Civil Service exam to become a police officer.
“I have always been a firm believer that policing is one of America’s most noble professions. The actions of a police officer, in an instant, can impact an individual for life and even a community for generations,” Caloiaro said when he was sworn in as police chief.
Policing has changed since he first went out on patrol, Caloiaro said. Technology has impacted the way police officers function on a daily basis. The use of social media in investigations and the implementation of in-car and body-worn cameras presented new challenges, he said.
Looking back, it has been an absolute honor and pleasure working for the past 28 years as a police officer in Lawrence, Caloiaro said.
“Growing up and being educated in Lawrence Township gave me the desire to come back after college and give back to the town that had given me so much,” he said.
“Being chief of police has reinforced something that I already knew – that we have some of the finest police officers in the State of New Jersey,” Caloiaro said.
“During my term as chief, I took pride in upholding the highest of ethical standards and abiding by our core values of ‘Knowledge, Honor and Integrity’,” he said.
Caloiaro said he appreciated the “countless partnerships and friendships” that he developed over the years.
“I will miss serving Lawrence Township,” Caloiaro said.