Hillsborough's Top Cops Honored For Hard Work, Service

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Chief Michael McMahon announces two Hillsborough Township Officers have been chosen as the 2022 Top Cop Award recipients - Officer Dillon Kelly from A-Squad and Officer Richard Tichenor from B-Squad.

The Hillsborough Township Police Department continues its program aimed at recognizing the performance of its top-rated Officers. Two Officers (one from each of the Department’s two Patrol Squads) are selected to receive the Top Cop recognition for the previous year.

The award recipients are determined based on a score obtained from their Annual Job Performance Evaluations, along with a ranking achieved by their respective supervisors and peers.

As a result of their hard work, an acknowledgment of the award is placed in the Officers’ permanent Personnel File and a special award bar is presented to each Officer to be worn above his uniform badge.

In addition, the Officers’ names will be engraved on a plaque displayed in the lobby of Police Headquarters memorializing each year’s winners since the program’s inception in 1996.

Officer Dillon Kelly has been a member of the Department since 2019 where he has served in the Patrol Division. Kelly is the recipient of several Command Citations, as well as several Supervisory Commendations such as a lifesaving award. This is Officer Kelly’s first time receiving this award.

Officer Richard Tichenor has been a member of the Department since 2017. He has served in the Patrol Division and was also assigned to be the department's K-9 handler since being hired. Tichenor is the recipient of several Command Citations as well as Supervisory Commendations. He is also the recipient of several letters of appreciation, from the community, for a job well done during the performance of his duties.

Tichenor has been awarded the medal of merit, medal of valor, and is a member of the Somerset County 200 Club. This is Tichenor’s first time receiving Top Cop.