The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | Summer 2025 An Update Regarding the Berlin Township Police Department
In a testament to the transformative power of dedication and continuous improvement, the Berlin Township Police Department has emerged as a model of readiness and accountability following a rigorous journey of change and mentorship since August of 2022. This once-crisis ridden police department, now supremely prepared to tackle the multifaceted challenges of modern law enforcement, has undergone change driven by comprehensive training programs, strategic leadership changes, and community-focused initiatives. These efforts have not only bolstered the operational capabilities of the department but have also fostered a renewed sense of trust and collaboration with the community it serves. As we explore the elements of this remarkable transformation, it becomes evident that the department’ s unwavering commitment to excellence stands as a model for others striving for reform and excellence in public safety as the department is finishing its bid to become an accredited police department in New Jersey. This accomplishment is astonishing, when you look where they were just 3 years ago, in 2022.
In August of 2022 the Berlin Township Police Department and the Berlin Township Mayor and Council were left without any viable options for almost every leadership position in the police department. This became evident after appointing two Officers in Charge( OICs) and running promotional exam( s) to fill vacant positions for Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Chief. Both OICs either resigned from the OIC position or failed the promotional exam for the open Chief’ s position. The additional police promotional testing for Police Sergeant left Town Council with no options to fill the vacant Sergeant positions as all candidates failed the written exam and could not move on in the process. This left the governing body with few options in such a crisis of not having a viable candidate for Chief of Police. Their options were hiring a Police Director, hiring a Chief from outside the Berlin Township Police Department, or sharing a Chief of Police with another municipality, via a shared service agreement. Mayor and Council chose to enter into a shared service agreement with Voorhees Township, which is their border town to the west. Chief Louis Bordi was appointed to evaluate the current department, make a transition plan based on the evaluation, identify leaders in the department, prepare them for promotion, and make recommendations to Mayor and Council regarding the most efficient way to identify and prepare a member of the department to become Chief of Police.
Almost immediately, in 2022, Chief Bordi met with every police department member, which led to the initiation of a change in the police ordinance, which restructured the promotional process. A promotional exam for Police Sergeant was initiated and almost every member that tested passed the exam process and eventually received a promotion via a vacancy. They also initiated the process to become an accredited police department in New Jersey. Berlin Township was also the first recipient of a grant from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police( NJSACOP) to help pay for the cost of accreditation. The department embarked on enhancing professionalism and accountability, improving community relations, making risk management and liability reduction a priority, and enhancing officer morale and recruitment. Through this process, they were able to run an additional promotional exam for Sergeant and upper command positions such as Lieutenant, Captain, and Chief. The department is glad to report that almost every candidate in the police department passed the exam for either Sergeant or upper command. This process led to the department’ s first Captain in its history. This Captain position is crucial in preparation for becoming Chief of Police, given Berlin Township’ s makeup.
In summary, Mayor and Council were committed to a new idea for their police department that was not present in 2022. They believed in becoming an accredited police department, which offers many benefits for a New Jersey police department like Berlin Township. These benefits range from enhanced professionalism and accountability to improved community relations and operational efficiency. Chief Bordi has established standards and best practices, which foster an environment of trust, reduce liabilities, and improve overall effectiveness. Ultimately, the goal of promoting a chief of police from the members of the Berlin Township Police Department, who will lead an accredited police agency, is not merely a mark of distinction but a commitment to continuous improvement and excellence.
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