Police Chief David J. Harkins ended a career that spanned 30 years and seven months with the Gloucester Township Police Department with his retirement on Nov. 1.
The news was celebrated in a ceremony on Oct. 29 attended by family, friends, colleagues and community leaders.
“I have the honor of taking over this great man’s footsteps,” said Deputy Chief Anthony Manazi – Harkins’ successor – at the ceremony. “And I hope to do even a quarter of what he has accomplished in his career … Thank you for being here today to honor and celebrate a truly remarkable man.”
In attendance to honor Harkins were Mayor David Mayer, council members, Camden County Police Sgt. Michelle Gentech and past police chiefs. Harkins’ family was also present, including his wife Lisa and children David Jr. and Gracie.
Harkins’ law-enforcement career is rooted in community service. He began as a volunteer firefighter at the Choose Landing Fire Company from 1993 to 2006, and rose to the ranks of lieutenant and captain before choosing a police career. He joined the township department in April of 1995.
Harkins has had multiple roles on the force, including School Programs Officer, field-training officer and narcotics unit member. He was appointed to the Special Response Team in 1999 and was its commander from 2006 to 2010, pioneering county-wide SWAT policies and early active- shooter response training in schools.
Harkins also led training at the Camden County Police Academy, earning the 2007 Gallery Award for outstanding instructor.
Promotions came steadily: sergeant in 2002, lieutenant in 2004, captain and deputy chief in 2010 and chief in 2019. Harkins had leadership roles that included overseeing communications, technical services and police records.
Harkins has earned numerous awards, including one for heroism, three merit awards, a lifesaving award, 11 distinguished unit citations and 12 outstanding police work letters. He was named township officer of the year in 2001 and was nominated for supervisor of the year.
A lifelong resident of the township and a 1989 Highland High School graduate, Harkins earned a bachelor’s in political science from Rutgers University and a master’s in human resources from Seton Hall University. He graduated from the 2011 class of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and is a chief executive with the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police.
Under Harkins’ leadership, the township police department achieved full accreditation from the association in 2023, the first in the state to achieve that for both a department and its public safety answering point. From 2021 to 2025, he also represented the association on the New Jersey Attorney General’s Advisory Panel for Conducted Energy and Less Lethal Devices, further demonstrating his commitment to professional standards, safety, and innovation.
