Lawrence Suffern

Parliamentarian, Chief, Englewood Police Department

Lawrence D. Suffern was born and raised in the City of Englewood. He is a product of the Englewood School system and a graduate of Dwight Morrow High School. He joined the City of Englewood’s Police Department as a police dispatcher in 1987. In 1988 he was hired as a police officer and attended the Bergen County Police Academy as a member of class #61, successfully graduating December 1988. Upon graduation he was assigned to the Patrol Division providing police services to the community. In 1994 he was promoted to detective and served in the Youth Services Unit and Internal Affairs Unit. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1997 and served as the officer in charge of the Traffic Bureau, Records Section, Directed Patrol Unit in addition to Administration and Patrol supervision responsibilities.

In 2004, he was designated as Acting Lieutenant and assigned to the Patrol Division as platoon commander, and subsequently permanently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. After serving as platoon commander on all patrol shifts, he was subsequently assigned to Administration as the administrative officer.
He was then promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief in 2009 and assisted in the day-to-day operations of the department.
In January 2014, he was promoted to the rank of Chief of Police.

He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a Bachelor’s Degree. He also holds a Masters of Administrative Science Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Chief Suffern has received various awards and commendations during his career.

Professional Affiliations:

• Bergen County Police Chiefs Association. Current Executive Board member
• New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP)
• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
• National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
• Criminal Justice Advisory Board, Bergen Community College