Harrison Police Chief Strumolo Retirement & Police Director Ordinance

For the first time in years, the Harrison Mayor & Council held a full meeting in the 2nd Floor Council Chambers—and it wasn’t standing room only but it was a very large crowd. Dozens of residents, along with a significant number of Harrison Police Officers and their supporters, packed the room on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, for a meeting that proved to be both emotional and politically charged.

Although many attendees arrived in anticipation of discussing a proposed ordinance to add a Police Director to the Harrison Police Department’s table of organization, it became clear that the Police Union presidents had reached a compromise concerning the addition of a Police Director to the Police Department’s Table of Organization. The officers were there to honor Police Chief David Strumolo, who emotionally announced his impending retirement. Mayor James Fife added that this could be “his last Harrison town meeting as an official of the town.”

Union Response Marks a Shift in Tone—But Not in Opposition

Previously, the town’s two police unions had issued a joint statement firmly opposing the creation of a Police Director position. However, at the meeting, union leaders pivoted their focus toward honoring Chief Strumolo’s service rather than restating their opposition to the ordinance.

It was clear from the outset that a compromise was reached regarding the Police Director position. However, many hope the terms of that compromise will be honored by the Mayor and Council.

Lack of Transparency Sparks Questions

A key issue that emerged from the controversy was how the ordinance was introduced. At the April 1, 2025, Mayor & Council meeting, the proposed amendment to add a Police Director was not listed on the original agenda. It was added as a last-minute item, and Councilman Doran—Chairman of the Police Committee—did not inform the police unions or rank-and-file officers beforehand.

Doran explained at the meeting that the Police Committee met privately and determined that support was needed at the top of the department following Chief Strumolo’s retirement, specifically for Lt. Stanley Titterington, who is expected to become Acting Chief. Doran claimed there was no time for union consultation.

Critics, however, viewed the move with suspicion. Some attendees described the last-minute ordinance as a political maneuver designed to install an ally of the current administration in a position of power. When directly asked who the new Police Director would be, Mayor Fife acknowledged he knew the name but refused to share it—despite many in the audience already having their suspicions.

Harrison Police Chief David Strumolo Addresses His Retirement Plan

Public Pushback Continues

Several residents took to the podium during the public comment session to express their disapproval of the ordinance, echoing the concerns outlined in the police unions' original statement. They questioned the need for a Police Director, especially when senior officers such as captains could provide support to the soon-to-be Acting Chief and now Lieutenant Stanley Titterington.

Lieutenant Titterington has already spent two years working closely with Chief Strumolo and is regarded as a capable leader who has risen through the department’s ranks. Doran's explanation—that retirements have left a gap in the upper ranks—was met with skepticism, particularly because he failed to clearly articulate what unique responsibilities the proposed Police Director would assume over the next two years.

Lingering Doubts About Councilman Doran's Credibility

Adding to the tension is Councilman Doran’s growing credibility problem. Many residents remember his public denial of the EPA’s plan to build a Toxic Sludge Dewatering Plant in Harrison—an assertion that was later proven false. Evidence showed that both Doran and Mayor Fife were aware of the EPA’s plans, yet Doran distributed letters and flyers denying their existence.

Given this recent history, some residents questioned whether Doran’s assurances about the Police Director role including only a 2-year term could also prove to be a lie. His past actions, they say, demonstrate a willingness to withhold information, lie, and distort the truth for political convenience.

Conclusion: A Town at a Crossroads

The April 15 Council meeting illustrated the deep divisions surrounding the proposed Police Director position and the public’s desire for transparency and accountability. As the town prepares for Chief Strumolo’s departure, the leadership transition within the Harrison Police Department appears anything but smooth.

Only time will tell whether the newly proposed administrative changes will strengthen the department—or weaken it by bringing politics into the ranks, lowering morale resulting in officers leaving the department because of it.

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