LONGPORT – During its annual reorganization meeting Thursday, Jan. 15, the Board of Commissioners honored retiring Police Chief Frank Culmone by naming the day in his honor.
After 25 years in law enforcement, Culmone will officially retire on Jan. 30.
Members of the Police Department, Atlantic County Board of County Commissioners Chairman John Risley, Atlantic County Sheriff Joseph O’Donoghue and chiefs from surrounding municipalities were on hand to honor Culmone, who has spent 25 years in the department, starting as a patrol officer and progressing through the ranks to obtain the top position.
Culmone graduated from Stockton University, formerly Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, in 1991, and after graduation, attended the Camden County Police Academy. He was hired in Longport in 2001 and was designated as the department’s drug recognition expert.
He was a member of the Atlantic County Emergency Response Team for six years. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2007 and within several years became lieutenant.
He graduated from the New Jersey Command and Leadership program in 2012 and was sworn in as chief of the department on April 1, 2015.
He has served on the International Association of Chiefs of Police, New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police, National Tactical Officers Association, and the Atlantic County Association of Chiefs of Police where he served as treasurer, vice president and president.
In June 2019, he attended the Mid-Atlantic Law Enforcement Executive Development program, and in 2021 attended the FBI Leadership Trilogy Institute for Supervisor, Command and Executive Leadership.
Armstrong quoted the members of the department who said, “Frank is a good man, a great leader and has been more like a big brother and father to all of us in the Police Department.”
Members of the Longport Police Department present Chief Frank Culmone with his service revolver which was engraved to honor his years of service to the department.Before presenting Culmone with a Proclamation naming Jan. 15, 2026, as Frank Culmone Day in Longport, Armstrong thanked him for his many years protecting and serving the residents of Longport.
Representing the members of the Police Department, Lt. Ray Burgan presented him with his service weapon, a Glock 30 that he carried for more than 10 years, which was engraved with his name and service record. Burgan called it a symbol of his career in law enforcement.
“The impact you had cannot be measured in years alone. You didn’t just lead, you transformed the department, set standards, challenged us to be better, and invested in us personally and professionally often without recognition, and always with purpose,” Burgan said. “Because of your leadership, we are stronger professionals, respected leaders and better people. You will be missed but your legacy will continue on.”
Culmone thanked his family, members of the governing body and the prior administration for their confidence and support over the years.
“I know at times I am difficult to work for, but I always strived for excellence. And, I hope I met the expectations of the community. Overall, nothing I did was not for the benefit of the community,” Culmone said.
Longport Commissioner Jim Ulmer presents retiring Police Chief Frank Culmone with the coveted squishy replica of the iconic Smiley-faced water tower.Copyright Fideri News Network 2026
