New Police Chief Appointed In Cranford

CRANFORD, NJ — Captain Matthew Nazzaro was unanimously appointed as the new Chief of the Cranford Police Department following Chief Ryan Greco's retirement.

Nazzaro will assume the office on Dec. 1 and will work closely with Greco on the transition.

"The Police Chief plays a vital role keeping our community safe and leading our exceptional Police Department. Our entire Township Committee participated in the selection process, which included a written component and in-person interviews. We were blessed to have multiple strong candidates from within the Department. Congratulations to Captain Matthew Nazzaro, who has done a tremendous amount for our Township already and will continue to serve Cranford proudly," stated Mayor Brian Andrews.

"The Cranford Police Department is home to the finest officers in the state. It's a great honor to lead this exceptional team as the next Chief of Police. My goal is to ensure that our workforce has the tools, support, and dynamic training to serve our community as new challenges emerge," stated Nazzaro.

Nazzaro was appointed following a thorough and rigorous candidate selection process over the course of several months by the Township Committee and Township Administrator Lavona Patterson.

"We are beyond appreciative of the talented and outstanding pool of candidates that participated in this demanding interview process. Captain Nazzaro has shown exemplary professionalism throughout his 22-year career in Cranford, and we look forward to working with him as the next Chief of Police," stated Patterson.

"I’ve always been a champion of hard work, self-improvement, and community service. Captain Nazzaro wholeheartedly exemplifies these attributes, with his start in service to Cranford as a member of Cranford’s First Aid Squad, moving to the Police Department as a Communications Officer. Captain Nazzaro now brings his experience in Patrol, as a School Resource Officer, and Administrative and Operations leadership as a Captain, to his new role as Chief," stated Public Safety Commissioner Paul A. Gallo.

"We thank Chief Ryan Greco for his 25 years of service in the Cranford Police Department. Some of the hallmarks of the Chief's tenure are a strong focus on community engagement, cultivating a superb group of next-generation leaders in the Department, and stepping up when Cranford needed him. Our community owes him a debt and wishes him well in retirement," stated Andrews.