New Police Director Named In Fanwood After Chief Resigns

FANWOOD, NJ — A new police director will take the reigns of the Fanwood Police Department since the former Police Chief stepped down after alleged racist and sexist comments surfaced.

At the Aug. 16 meeting, the Fanwood Borough Council passed a resolution during its regular monthly meeting to hire Michael Bramhall as Police Director.

Bramhall replaces Richard Trigo after an audio recording, which was published on YouTube by Fanwood Exposed, was released claiming to have Trigo talking with other people and commenting about former Asian-American Union County Prosecutor Grace Park, saying, "she's pretty hot," and "she's got wide eyes." Read More: Fanwood Police Chief Leaves After Alleged Racist, Sexist Comments

Trigo's two Lieutenants also resigned shortly thereafter.

"Public safety is our number one concern," saidMayor Colleen Mahr at the Council meeting. "During the search process for this position, we vetted multiple outstanding candidates, all at the top of their professional game. One stood out, and that’s Michael."

Following the resignation in July 2020, the UCPO ran the police department with Capt. Kevin Grimmer appointed to serve as the Officer in Charge of the Department.

Bramhall is replacing Grimmer and his official start date is Monday, Aug. 23. He is the former chief of the West Caldwell Police Department where he served for 27 years, starting as a patrolman and rising through the ranks. He most recently was training officer for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and worked for a year as Special Assistant to the Newark Public Safety Director.

"I'm very excited about joining next week and moving forward as Police Director," he told the Council during the virtual meeting.

Bramhall, a native of Parsippany and current resident of Cedar Grove, will spend his first couple of weeks getting to know the town, its people, businesses and community leaders.

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