NJSACOP RETIRED MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT
March 2026 | The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine 30
One in an occasional series
NJSACOP RETIRED MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT
Chief Chris Leusner
Middle Township Police Department
NJSACOP is spotlighting retired police chiefs who have moved on to successful careers in other professions.
In this edition, we highlight NJSACOP Past President Chief Christoper Leusner. Chief Leusner retired from the Middle Township Police Department( Cape May County) in 2023, after serving more than 26 years in law enforcement, including over 13 years as Chief of Police. He currently serves as Mayor of Middle Township and as Cape May County’ s Director of Emergency Management and Central Dispatch.
What job skills did you develop as a police chief that you now use in your career?
As Chief, I learned skills in strategic planning, budgeting, and managing large, complex operations, which I now use daily in my current roles. I also developed experience in interagency coordination, community engagement, and policy development.
What are you most proud of from your years of police work?
I am most proud of helping build a professional, community-oriented agency grounded in officer development, accountability, and public trust. Another achievement was solving long-standing radio communications challenges in Middle Township by moving to the New Jersey State P25 system. And, of course, serving as NJSACOP President during the Covid-19 pandemic was one of the greatest honors of my career.
What drew you to your current career?
I was drawn to serving as Mayor and in emergency management because it allowed me to continue serving the same community, just from a broader vantage point than a single agency, making the transition a natural fit.
What advice would you give to police chiefs on the brink of retirement who are considering future career paths?
Your skills in leadership, crisis management, labor relations, and budgeting are highly transferable— don’ t underestimate them. Also, build relationships and explore options before you retire so you have clear goals and a sense of purpose on day one after policing.
What was the most challenging part of transitioning from law enforcement to your current career?
The most challenging part was stepping out of the“ Chief” identity I held for more than a decade and leading without the badge and rank structure of policing. I had to adjust to different decision‐making timelines, more political dynamics, and a broader set of stakeholders while keeping a public‐safety mindset.
What mindset shifts were necessary for you to succeed outside of policing?
I had to shift from a command‐and‐control mindset to one that leans on collaboration, consensus‐building, and long‐range policy work. I also had to view“ success” less as an immediate incident outcome and more as sustained improvements in community quality of life.