Antonio Ellis was sworn in as Manchester Township’s eighth Chief of Police on May 1, 2024, taking the oath of office before fellow officers, Mayor Robert Arace, the Township Council, family, and esteemed guests during a ceremony in the Municipal Complex Courtroom. Chief Ellis succeeds outgoing Chief Robert M. Dolan, who retired on April 30, 2024, following a distinguished 31-year career.
Chief Ellis, who most recently served as the department’s Administrative and Support Services Lieutenant, is a highly regarded expert in the field of Traffic Safety who has served the residents of Manchester Township since 2000. He completed several prestigious training courses, notably the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award, which includes the Supervisory Leadership Institute, Command Leadership Institute and Executive Leadership Institute.
“I’m honored to lead the Manchester Township Police Department as its Chief of Police,” said Chief Ellis. “Our department is here for our residents during their most difficult times, and it is my goal to ensure that each member of our agency has the knowledge, training, and equipment necessary to serve the public to the best of their ability.”
Chief Ellis brings a high-level of executive managerial expertise to his role as Chief, having prepared the operating budgets for the Police Department as well as a large portion of capital expenditures for the agency. This includes the upkeep and modernization of the department’s vehicle fleet; preparing a major grant application to procure Body Worn Cameras for the department; and managing the $2 million Motorola Spillman communication/computer aided dispatch project.
Prior to his tenure as Lieutenant, Chief Ellis supervised the Traffic Safety Section as Sergeant, where he had served as a Patrolman in various capacities since 2005. From 2007 until 2016, Chief Ellis served the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team as a dedicated Sniper. During his tenure on the SWAT Team, Chief Ellis was deployed on a multitude of various special operations within Ocean County.
Chief Ellis has extensive experience in teaching and mentoring a broad range of law enforcement personnel, from new recruits to veteran officers in a variety of law enforcement specialties. Additionally, he is a proponent of promoting positive interactions with members of the public, having hosted numerous public speaking events. This includes town hall meetings to listen to the safety concerns of residents, to explain new technologies and policy implementations.
“I’d like to thank Mayor Robert Arace and the Township Council for their support and confidence as I embark on a new chapter in my law enforcement career leading the dedicated professionals of the Manchester Township Police Department,” said Chief Ellis. “Our mission to provide high quality public safety services to the residents of Manchester Township remains paramount.”
