After 25 years of dedicated service, longtime Voorhees resident Stephanie Fisher bid farewell to the Camden County Police Department and was joined by family, friends and colleagues at a retirement ceremony on March 3.
The township courtroom event featured remarks from Mayor Michael Mignogna, alongside Committeewoman Jackie Febroyt and a balloon display coordinated by Natalie Illiano. Lisa Witherspoon, secretary of the Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Committee (VCDC), led the planning.
Fisher’s career has been marked by an unwavering commitment to community engagement, education and diversity initiatives. As she reflected on her time in law enforcement, Fisher emphasized the impact of strong leadership within the county police department, which serves Camden City.
“More than anything, I enjoyed my time working for three of the best police chiefs in Camden County: J. Scott Thomson, Joseph Wysocki and Gabriel Rodriguez,” she noted. “Because of their esteemed leadership, the Camden County Police Department has become a role model for others. Their community policing initiative has made Camden City a safer place to live and work.”
Fisher served in multiple roles during her police career, including as director of training, as a state-certified police academy instructor and most recently as chief of staff to the head of police. She was also instrumental in the transition from city to county policing.
“As part of the transition team, I witnessed first hand how only the most qualified applicants were selected to join the force,” Fisher recounted. “These officers lived and worked by the motto ‘Service Before Self.’”
Fisher has also been described as a tireless advocate for education and community enrichment. She is a co-founder of the CBCC Inc. in Voorhees, an organization of minority families that works to improve the education of township children, and she founded Kids & Co., a group of minority families who offer educational opportunities by enabling children to tour places of interest in the U.S.
Fisher also spent 16 years on the Eastern Camden County Regional School District’s board of education and continues to participate in school initiatives.
“I was raised by a single mother who put four children through college while working as a house cleaner,” Fisher recalled. “She was always there to help others whenever needed, and I believe that’s where I get it from.
“I have so much to give back, so I share what I have with others and do so with all my heart.”
Fisher’s commitment to diversity and inclusion led her to chair the diversity committee, where she has helped bridge cultural gaps through education and community outreach.
“My most rewarding experiences have been learning to appreciate and understand other cultures,” she noted. “I have attended Buddhist, Muslim and Jewish services, toured religious and historical sites and worked to bring people together.
“To understand our differences, we must be willing to learn about them.”
While she’s retiring from official duties, Fisher has no plans to slow down. She will continue to lead the diversity committee; volunteer for Eastern High School’s Project Graduation; and support local DEI and belonging programs with her collaborators, attorney Jenn Branch Stewart and endocrinologist Dr. Garima Thapar.
“I also plan on continuing to support our first responders and offering my help to families throughout the community,” Fisher promised. “Voorhees is a wonderful town, and I look forward to assisting with the diversity initiatives started by Mayor (Michael) Mignogna and the late (Muslim leader) Zia Rahman in any way I can.”
