Gloucester Township Police Chief Harry Earle To Retire

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — After 33 years serving the public, Gloucester Township Police Chief Harry Earle has announced his intention to retire. Earle will retire effective Nov. 1, 2019, the Gloucester Township Police Department announced. Deputy Chief David Harkins will succeed him as chief of police.

“I thank you for your partnership with GTPD, which I believe has made our community stronger and safer,” said Earle, whose career began as a Class I Special Officer and Dispatcher in 1987. “Our major community policing initiative launched in 2010 focused on building community partnerships, opening lines of communication, establishing relationships with youth, and changing the way we train – all have which helped overall crime being reduced substantially. I have been so fortunate as Chief of Police to have such commitment and support from the community, Mayor Mayer, and all of our local government leaders. I am also confident that Deputy Chief Harkins will provide the leadership that is needed to keep moving the department forward so that the men and women of the GTPD will continue to provide outstanding police service to the community. I am thankful to all of the members of the Gloucester Township Police Department who work tirelessly in building relationships with the community while also protecting them - this is not always an easy task. An officer may be giving a high-five to a young child at a bus stop, taking a picture with a lost dog, and then in the same shift perform CPR on a person who has overdosed, or may even later be assaulted by someone as they make an arrest for a crime. I salute the men and women of GTPD as they perform these extraordinary and diverse duties every day.”

After a year with the department, Earle became a full-time officer in 1988. He served in numerous positions before becoming Chief of Police in February 2010.

“It's a bittersweet day in Gloucester Township,” Mayor David Mayer said of Earle’s announcement. “Having become Chief of Police in 2010, he has been a tremendous force in spearheading numerous initiatives that have recognized the Gloucester Township Police Department on a county, state, national, and international levels. His passion to serve and protect our residents combined with his drive for implementing the latest technological advancements has made an exponential impact on Gloucester Township and created a much safer community. His unparalleled professionalism, urgent sense of accountability, and strong leadership have been greatly appreciated by many and will be missed. Chief Earle’s retirement will be effective November 1, and I wish him a happy retirement and thank him for his service to Gloucester Township. I would also like to announce that Deputy Chief David Harkins will assume the responsibilities as Chief on the effective date of Chief Earle’s retirement. Deputy Chief Harkins has been a Gloucester Township Police Officer since 1995 and second-in-command since 2010. I strongly believe that Deputy Chief Harkins will continue the great progress of the Gloucester Township Police Department. His sense of professionalism, and his high ideal for service will make him a very successful leader of our Police Department, and I look forward to working with him in his new capacity as Chief of Police.”

Harkins joined the Gloucester Township Police Department in 1995 He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a master's degree in human resource development, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Harkins will be sworn in as Chief of Police at a Change-in-Command Ceremony on Nov. 4, 2019, 6:30 p.m. at a location to be announced. This event will be open to the public.