The Fanwood Borough Council passed a resolution during its regular monthly meeting on August 16, 2021, to hire Michael Bramhall as Police Director.
Director Bramhall is the former chief of the West Caldwell Police Department where he served for 27 years, starting as a patrolman and rising through the ranks. He most recently was a training officer for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and worked for a year as a Special Assistant to the Newark Public Safety Director.
Director Bramhall with wife Sandra, daughter Samantha, and Fanwood Police Lt. Dan Kranz
Director Bramhall has described himself as a builder of relationships between police and the community, an important quality as Fanwood’s Police Department strives to do the same. He visited Fanwood during the National Night Out earlier this month and got his first taste of the town and some of his officers. He told the Council tonight his first impression of Fanwood and its citizens is overwhelmingly positive.
“I’m very excited about joining next week and moving forward as Police Director,” he told the Council during tonight’s virtual meeting. His official start date is Monday, August 23.
Director Bramhall, far right with, left to right, Council members Trisha Walsh and Francine Glaser, Mayor Colleen Mahr, and Councilman Jeff Banks
The Fanwood Police Department entered a transitional period last August when Chief Richard Trigo retired and his two Lieutenants did the same shortly thereafter. Since then, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office has been in charge of the department.
“Public safety is our number one concern,” remarked Mayor Colleen Mahr at the Council meeting. “During the search process for this position, we vetted multiple outstanding candidates, all at the top of their professional game. One stood out, and that’s Michael.”
Director Bramhall, a native of Parsippany and current resident of Cedar Grove, will spend his first couple of weeks getting to know the town, its people, businesses, and community leaders.
