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Cranford swears in Matthew Nazaro as police chief; pledges transparency and community advisory board
Summary
Matthew R. Nazaro was sworn in as Cranford’s 12th police chief on Dec. 3, 2024, in a ceremony where he pledged transparency, data-sharing on crime and traffic trends, and work with a community advisory board. The committee had already adopted the appointment resolution in October; the ceremony was ceremonial and no vote was taken tonight.
Matthew R. Nazaro was sworn in as chief of the Cranford Police Department on Dec. 3, 2024, during a ceremony at the township municipal building attended by township officials, union county law-enforcement partners and family. A township resolution (2024-344A) previously appointed Nazaro effective Dec. 1, 2024; United States Magistrate Judge Justin Quinn administered the oath at the event.
Mayor Andrews introduced Nazaro and noted the thorough selection process led by Business Administrator Lavona Patterson and the participation of the full township committee. The resolution read into the record described Nazaro’s appointment as chief and certified the committee’s earlier adoption of the appointment resolution on Oct. 8, 2024.
In brief remarks after the oath, Nazaro thanked colleagues, family and departmental partners and outlined priorities for his tenure. "We commit to transparency with the community by sharing crime trends and traffic studies to outline our efforts to address public concerns," Nazaro said, and pledged to support officers' training, tools and safety while fostering community partnerships and a community advisory board to bolster communication.
Elected officials who spoke at the swearing-in praised Nazaro’s experience and leadership. Deputy Mayor Curran, Commissioner Miller Prunty and others called him the right choice because of his long tenure in the department and his vision for the future. Business Administrator Lavona Patterson and Township Clerk Patty Donahue also offered congratulatory remarks.
The committee recessed briefly after the ceremony to allow guests to depart; formal township business resumed with routine committee reports and a consent agenda of resolutions later in the meeting.
What happens next: Nazaro begins to implement the priorities discussed in his remarks, including more frequent public reporting of crime and traffic trends and engagement with the planned community advisory board.
