Manchester Names its Next Police Chief

Manchester Township names a successor to retiring Police Chief Brian Klimakowski. Mayor Kenneth Palmer recommended 26-year-veteran Captain Lisa Parker to the post during this week's Council Meeting on Tuesday, February 23rd.

According to the police department's press release, Captain Parker began her law enforcement career in Manchester Township in 1989 in the Patrol Division and has worked in all the division's major bureaus and units.

"The Manchester Township Police Department is one of the most well regarded law enforcement agencies in the State of New Jersey," said Parker in a written statement. "Nothing makes me more proud than becoming the next Chief and continuing to uphold the tradition of excellence set by those leaders who came before me."

Parker became a Detective in 1995 and while working in that capacity, implemented a Victim Intervention Program (VIP) as part of her Master's Thesis. This program helped to increase police officers' knowledge of domestic violence, empower victims and stop violence through strict law enforcement. The VIP became a model for the State of New Jersey and Captain Parker was awarded the 1998 Women of Influence award for her work on domestic violence.

Parker was promoted to Sergeant in 2002 and a year later was assigned to lead the Investigations Bureau. In 2006, she was promoted to Lieutenant in the Patrol Division and in 2011 she became Captain, overseeing civilian and sworn personnel and running the Office of Professional Standards. More recently, Parker implemented the narcotics enforcement team, which has found great success in combating the area's growing drug problem.

Law enforcement apparently runs in her veins as well. Her father, Larry D. Parker Sr., retired as Chief of the Stafford Township Police Department in 2005. She's also the wife of retired Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Captain Jeff Harper.

Captain Parker holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University and graduated from the West Point Leadership and Command Program where she now serves as instructor. She also completed the FBI-LEEDA Executive Leadership Course and Fairleigh Dickinson University Executive Leadership Course.

Parker will be sworn into office as Chief on Monday, March 2nd.