Lacey's Chief of Police Announces Retirement

Chief of Police William Nally will be retiring at the end of this year, according to committeeman and police liaison Gary Quinn.

Nally submitted a letter to Township Administrator and Municipal Clerk Veronica Laureigh on Nov. 19, announcing his retirement, effective Monday, Dec. 31.

The letter states that Nally has electronically filed the appropriate forms with the New Jersey Division of Pension and Benefits.

“I would like to thank you both personally and professionally for your support and confidence throughout my career,” Nally says in the letter. “It has been a pleasure to work for and with you for many years. You are a true professional.”

Nally has been eligible for retirement for three years, said Mayor Mark Dykoff, adding that he was “close” to the police chief. Nally was appointed as chief approximately nine years ago, when Dykoff was elected to the Committee.

“It’s something he thought about for many years,” he said of Nally's retirement.

Nally has served as president of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, which Dykoff sees as a major career feat, he said.

“That was a goal he wanted to achieve,” he said. “It’s quite an achievement for a chief from Ocean County much less Forked River. Now it’s time to move on.”

Although Nally was eligible to retire, the move was surprising, Quinn said.

“It came to us without us having a lot of knowledge of it,” he said.

The committee will discuss potential options moving forward in the Executive Session of the township meeting on Thursday, Dec. 13, he said. Once a decision is made, the committee will make an announcement publicly.

The committee, with the help of Nally, will have to discuss how it’s going to “reconfigure” its command staff, Dykoff said.

“I would love for him to stay on. He’ll be very hard to replace,” Dykoff said. “He’s a true professional. It’s been a pleasure working with him.”

According to Nally’s profile on the Lacey Township Police Department’s website, he has been a resident of Lacey since 1974 and began his career in law enforcement with the township in February of 1985.

Prior to becoming chief of police in 2004, Nally served as executive officer, Patrol Division commander and Investigative Division commander.

Nally earned a master of science degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Joseph’s University in 1994 and a bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Saint Francis College in 1985.

He is a 1999 graduate of the FBI National Academy, 197th Session, and Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff & Command. He is a Certified Public Manager and is also certified by the N.J. State Association of Chiefs of Police as a Chief Law Enforcement Executive. Nally also serves as Lacey Township’s Emergency Management Coordinator.

As of Nov. 23, 2010, Nally made $132,832. His longevity was at $13,283.20 with holiday pay at $8,992. At that time, the total cost to the township was $184,696.29 including longevity, insurances and Social Security.

Nally did not immediately return calls for comment.