Crime & Safety

Township Police Promote Two to Lieutenant

Christopher Morgan and Robert Toole sworn in at Township Committee meeting on Monday.

The Princeton Township Police Department on Monday promoted two sergeants to the rank of lieutenant, a step towards fully staffing the department after losing its former chief and two top ranking officers in the wake of a criminal investigation last year.

“We’re moving forward,” Police Chief Bob Buchanan said moments before Sgt. Christopher Morgan and Sgt. Robert Toole, both longtime members of the department, were promoted.

Morgan and Toole earned the promotions from a slate of six candidates. 

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Candidates were judged on their job performance, file review, written exam and an oral exam, Buchanan said.

“I’m very, very proud of these guys,” Buchanan said.

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Monday’s promotions will trigger other department promotions in the ranks and hiring additional entry level recruits, he said.

On Monday night, Morgan and Toole were each accompanied by their families for the swearing-in ceremony and then individually congratulated by fellow members of their department, many of whom showed up off-duty to offer their support.

It was a moment of pride for the department, which suffered  a setback last year.

On Oct. 1, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office seized day-to-day control of the department and launched an investigation into then-Chief Mark Emman, Lt. Michael Henderson and Cpl. Arthur Villaruz for allegedly selling township property. 

All three were served with administrative charges and suspended from duty. They have all since resigned.

Now Buchanan is looking ahead and staffing the department for the future. 

Morgan, who was born and raised in Ewing, joined the police department in 1997 and has served as patrol officer, corporal and sergeant.

In 2001, he was awarded the department’s Honorable Service Award for coming to the aid of a fellow officer.

Morgan is vice president of the New Jersey Public Safety Accreditation Coalition.

He earned an undergraduate degree in law and justice from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in human resources training and development from Seton Hall University. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy.

Morgan and his wife Alison live in Robbinsville with their children, Jack and Emily.

Toole, who was born and raised in Princeton, joined the police department in 1986. He has been dispatcher, patrol officer, arson investigator, field training officer, patrol sergeant and traffic officer.

Toole is an instructor at the Mercer County Police Academy and has been a member of the Princeton Hook and Ladder Company for nearly three decades.

He earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Mercer County Community College, a bachelor’s degree in liberal Arts from Rider College and a graduate degree in administrative services from Farleigh Dickinson University.

Toole and his wife Trish live in Lawrenceville with their children, James, Maggie and Katie. 


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