History

If you have any additional information on the history of the Holland Township Police Department
please email Colleen Pursell at cpursell@hollandtwp.org or call (908) 995-2804.

The Holland Township Police Department
was established by ordinance on February 3, 1969.

R.H. Mac Donald
On November 6, 1941 Township Council appointed R.H. Mac Donald as Chief of Police and
John Gormely, Assistant Chief. The salary was $100.00 each per year.

Emeral Corrice
Appointed Constable for the township from 1952 until 1955 .

Frank Staats
Appointed Constable in 1956 and was appointed Chief of Police in 1957.

Robert T. Boutcher
Appointed Chief of Police in February of 1967.
Boutcher was Holland's first full-time Police Officer.

Arthur C. Cyphers
Hired as a part-time Police Officer in 1969 and was appointed a full-time Police Officer in 1971.
On March 15, 1972 Cyphers was promoted to Sergeant and was later promoted to Chief in 1977.
Cyphers served as Chief of Police until his retirement in December of 2001.

Thomas G. Cramer
Hired as Police Officer in March of 1972. He also served as Sergeant and Chief of Police.
Cramer served as Chief of Police until his retirement in December of 2002.

Stephen J. Verish, Jr.
Hired as Police Officer in April of 1977. He was promoted Sergeant in March of 2002
and was promoted to Chief of Police in January of 2003. Verish, Jr. served as Chief of Police
until his retirement in December of 2006.

David W. Van Gilson
Hired as Police Officer in August of 1978. In March of 2003 Van Gilson was
promoted Sergeant and promoted to Chief of Police in January of 2007.
Van Gilson served as Chief of Police until his retirement in December of 2010.

Chief John D. Harris, Jr.
Hired as Police Officer with Holland Township in April of 1995. In February
of 2007, Harris was promoted to Sergeant and then promoted to
Chief of Police in January of 2011. Chief Harris continues to
serve our 5,300 residents.

History

61 Church Road Milford, NJ 08848

(908) 995-4670

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