N.J. State Police Superintendent to Step Down at End of Year
What to know
• New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan will retire at year’s end after Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill decided not to renominate him for the post.
• Callahan, a 31-year law enforcement veteran who served through multiple administrations and helped lead the state through major crises including COVID-19, received public praise from both Sherrill and outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy.
• Callahan, whose father also served in the state police, said he supports the incoming administration and remains grateful for the opportunity to lead the agency since 2017.
New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill plans to replace Col. Patrick J. Callahan as superintendent of the State Police.
As a result, Callahan said he plans to retire at the end of the year.
“This morning, I will announce my retirement after 31 years of dedicated service in law enforcement as I will not be renominated to this position by the incoming administration,” Callahan said in a statement. “Transitions in leadership are part of public service. And they are essential to our system of government. I offer my full support to the incoming administration and to the dedicated personnel, both civilian and enlisted, who will continue to serve in so many ways.”
A spokesman for Sherrill didn’t respond to a question about why Callahan won’t be re-appointed.
“Col. Callahan dedicated his life to public service with over 30 years in law enforcement,” Sherrill said in a statement posted on X. “The son of a State Police Major, his dedication to public service is commendable and I wish him and his family well as they embark upon their next chapter.”
Gov. Phil Murphy praised Callahan, who sat by his side in regular coronavirus press conferences for more than two years.
“Colonel Callahan embodies the very essence of a career public servant. For more than three decades, he served the people of New Jersey with an unwavering commitment to the core values of the State Police: Honor, Duty, and Fidelity,” Murphy said in a statement.
“He has been an indispensable member of my Cabinet, guiding our work through some of the most challenging moments in our state’s history – from the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy to the unprecedented demands of the COVID-19 pandemic," he added. “Above all, he has been a trusted colleague and a dear friend. I wish him nothing but the very best as he enters this next chapter of his life.”
Callahan joined the State Police in April 1995 and has served as superintendent since 2017 during Gov. Chris Christie’s administration. Callahan was acting superintendent for four years before officially getting the title in December 2021.
He replaced Rick Fuentes, who was appointed when Jim McGreevy was governor and served 14 years.
Callahan followed in the footsteps of his father, Major Mick Callahan in working for the State Police.
“He instilled in me an unwavering respect for the brave men and women in blue — as well as a steadfast devotion to our core values: Honor, Duty, and Fidelity," Callahan wrote in his email.
“The point is: The New Jersey State Police runs in my blood — and it always will,” Callahan said. “I will always be grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the sacred mission of the New Jersey State Police.”
A married father of four, Callahan lives in Warren County.
State Police couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Sherrill won November’s race to succeed term-limited Murphy, a fellow Democrat. She will take office Jan. 20 and is still in the process of filling out her Cabinet.
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