By: Jennifer Potash
The Princeton Borough Council took a moment Tuesday to salute some of the officers of the Police Department.
The council acknowledged the long service of retiring Capt. Peter J. Hanley and Sgt. William T. Clark.
Each officer was given a proclamation honoring his service, as well as a small gift.
More than 40 friends and relatives of the officers turned out to applaud the achievements, leading Mayor Marvin Reed to joke that he now knows how to draw a crowd to the usually sparsely attended council meetings.
Born and raised in Princeton Borough, Capt. Hanley will step down next week after serving 28 years on the force.
After making his way through the ranks to sergeant in 1980 and later to lieutenant in 1986, he was promoted to the rank of captain in January 1991.
Mayor Reed thanked Capt. Hanley for his leadership and dedication to the borough.
"I have no doubt your legacy of leadership will continue in the department," he said.
Sgt. Clark, who retired last month, most recently served as a shift supervisor for a squad of patrol officers. He was also the team leader for the department’s tactical response team and counter-sniper team, as well as the supervising firearms instructor.
Prior to joining the department, he worked for the Capitol Police in Trenton and as a corrections officer at Trenton State Prison.
Lt. Charles Davall, was promoted to the captaincy vacated by Capt. Hanley. He has supervised the detective bureau and serves as the department’s training officer and press-information officer. He holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from New Jersey City University and a bachelor’s degree from Richard Stockton College.
"I expect you will maintain the department’s high standard of leadership," Mayor Reed said.
Det. Sgt. John Reading, who has headed up the borough’s detective bureau, was promoted to lieutenant.
"We know you’re up to the task," Mayor Reed said.
Capt. Reading holds a master’s degree in education from Trenton State College and serves as police instructor at the Trenton Police Academy and the John T. Dempster Fire Academy in Lawrence Township.
The borough also swore into the rank of sergeant Patrol Officer Nicholas K. Stutter and Detective Ralph Terracciano.
Mayor Reed also lauded the Police Department as "the best in the state."
"When I say that I really mean it," Mayor Reed said.
While many police departments are under scrutiny for their actions, the borough police have "dealt courteously and with the highest degree of professionalism" with individuals they come into contact with, the mayor said.
Police Chief Thomas Michaud, who is slated to retire next year, said he is proud of the officers’ achievements and dedication to the borough residents.
