ABERDEEN — Matthew Lloyd has officially been named Aberdeen Township’s police chief.
During a Township Council meeting on Aug. 18, members of the governing body passed a resolution which names Lloyd as the police chief for an initial term that runs from Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2026.
Mayor Fred Tagliarini, Deputy Mayor Concetta B. Kelley, Councilman Greg Cannon, Councilman Arthur Hirsch, Councilwoman Margaret Montone and Councilman Robert Swindle voted “yes” on a motion to pass the resolution. Councilman Joseph J. Martucci was absent.
According to Aberdeen Township Public Information Officer John Roman, Lloyd took over as acting chief of the Aberdeen Township Police Department on Oct. 21, 2021. He said the council’s action ratified Lloyd’s contract as police chief.
“Chief Lloyd passed his civil service chief’s test and will be ceremoniously sworn in as the permanent police chief at a later date. He took over as acting police chief on Oct. 1, 2021, from the previous police chief, Alan Geyer,” Roman said.
According to Roman, Lloyd’s law enforcement career began in 2000 when he worked as a part-time dispatcher in the township.
Lloyd said being named police chief has been a long-term career goal.
“This is something that, as I moved up through the ranks, I looked forward to the opportunity to get into the chief’s chair. In my new role, it is a great honor to serve the residents of Aberdeen in this heightened capacity, along with the men and women who serve in this department,” Lloyd said.
Roman said the police department has been recruiting and hiring more officers during the past five years. He said Lloyd plans to continue that trend and has been proactive in introducing new initiatives to improve the quality of police work in Aberdeen.
“Since taking over the top role on Oct. 1, 2021, Chief Lloyd has added new vehicles and equipment, such as body-worn cameras that were acquired through grants. The department has brought on more officers in the past five years than in the previous 15 years. As calls for service continue to increase in every town across the state, he hopes to continue to hire more officers to help keep residents safe,” Roman said.
In other business at the meeting, officials agreed to extend the township’s contract with the Police Benevolent Association Local 163 (PBA) Administrative Officers’ Association.
Tagliarini, Kelley, Cannon, Hirsch, Montone and Swindle voted “yes” on a motion to pass the resolution. The new contract will cover the period from Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2026.
According to Ron Osadacz Jr., president of PBA Local 163, the association’s previous contract was set to expire this year. He said the contract renewal ensures that police operations will continue without interruption.
Osadacz said that during contract negotiations, the township and residents remained a priority.
“I would say that no matter what negotiations looked like, our members put the township and its residents first. Even while operating on an expired contract and with negotiations taking place, the residents would never know based upon the quality of work and diligence our officers show. Even when off the clock, our officers are never off-duty,” Osadacz said.
The starting salary for a police officer in Aberdeen Township is $46,538.