“The best part of my day in general is going home and seeing my family.”
Burlington Township Police Lt. James Sullivan has called the town his home for most of his life. The 37-year-old attended the Burlington Township school district and graduated from BTHS.
Sullivan chose Rutgers University and decided on law enforcement during his sophomore year.
“I am currently pursuing my juris doctorate at Rutgers Law School-Camden, which I will hopefully be able to segue into a dual degree with the MBA program next year,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan has been with the Burlington Township Police Department for 15 years, and has not worked with any other agency. He had options to pursue employment in federal or state law enforcement.
“I chose to work for my ‘hometown’ because of the ability to give back to my community,” Sullivan said. “Interacting with local residents and being able to see the direct impact of your work is very rewarding. I truly believe that law enforcement is a noble profession filled with lots of people who are willing to sacrifice their personal safety and comfort for the well-being of others.”
Sullivan is not the only member of his family to have chosen law enforcement as a career. His uncle retired as a sergeant with the Mount Laurel Police Department, while his brothers Rich and Sean work in Burlington Township and Montgomery Township, respectively. The Burlington Township resident also stated he has a lot of close friends who are in law enforcement, although none of them were before he entered the profession.
“I don’t necessarily have an idol, though, I am a student of leadership principles and dynamics,” Sullivan said. “As such, I appreciate any military, political, corporate, sports executive that demonstrates good leadership skills and qualities.”
Sullivan has enjoyed his time working in the town he calls home, and feels honored to work “with some of the finest men and women you’ll ever meet.”
“The BTPD is a great group of people with a high level of esprit de corps and dedication to the profession,” Sullivan said. “The employees get along, both in work and outside of work. I truly work with some of the finest men and women you’ll ever meet.”
Outside of his daily work, Sullivan enjoys spending time with his family while continuing his education. He participates in a few professional associations, such as being an assessor for the agency’s accrediting body, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, and being part of the instructor cadre for several leadership training courses.
“The best part of my day in general is going home and seeing my family. However, professionally, the best part of my day is anytime I see or hear a resident give any of our employees accolades,” Sullivan said. “Again, I believe we have some of the finest officers and civilian employees around, and they deserve every bit of recognition they receive.”
For more information on Sullivan and the BTPD, check http://www.burltwppd.com.
