At the North Wildwood City Council meeting on April 16, Mayor Bill Henfey announced the retirement of Police Chief Robert A. Matteucci effective May 1, 2013. Mayor Henfey read Chief Matteucci’s letter of intent to retire effective May 1, 2013, when Deputy Chief Matthew Gallagher will be sworn in as his successor.
Chief Matteucci started his career in 1977 as a seasonal police officer on the boardwalk. In February 1978 he was hired as a dispatcher in the North Wildwood Police Department, and nine months later was appointed as a police officer.
He was promoted through the ranks, first as Sergeant for 15 years, then Lieutenant, Captain serving both in an administrative and operation capacity. In 2005 upon the retirement of Chief Stevenson, Mayor Aldo Palumbo appointed him Chief of Police, and in 2009 Mayor Henfey appointed Chief Matteucci as Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator.
In his letter Chief Matteucci thanked Mayor Henfey for all the support given during his tenure as Chief of Police. He mentioned their shared vision of what is best for the City of North Wildwood.
Mayor Henfey agreed adding his personal reflection: “The Chief and I became strong allies in our efforts to make life better in North Wildwood.” He named a few of the areas where Chief Matteucci’s dedicated work effected significant, positive results including taking over Code Enforcement for the city and working toward “fundamental fairness in property maintenance.”
His record shows that he has made fundamental improvements in the Police Department including having steered the department towards accreditation by the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police, of which the department has reached the review and approval stage. He is confident that the Department will be approved in this next phase of the process.
When asked what the most rewarding part of his career was he said, “The opportunity to influence young people at the start of their careers in law enforcement, particularly as a Sergeant. I’ve received letters from those under my supervision who continued their careers in various places all over the USA who later wrote to thank me for mentoring them to become leaders.”
Matthew Gallagher will be sworn as Chief of Police at 10 a.m. on May 1, 2013 in North Wildwood Municipal Court. The public is invited to attend the brief ceremony which follows the City’s Patriots Day Ceremony.
Meanwhile, Chief Matteucci will continue to serve as Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator. Since he was appointed as Coordinator he had to deal with the emergency responses during two hurricanes and an ice storm. He will also continue to serve as a volunteer firefighter for the Anglesea Fire Company as he has for more than 37 years.
The people of North Wildwood join the Mayor in his appreciation of all Chief Matteucci has done, and wish him a long and happy retirement!
