Pennington Council officially accepted Chief Doug Pinelli’s retirement which goes into effect next year.
Through a resolution, the Borough Council unanimously voted Oct. 7 to accept Pinelli’s retirement that is set for Feb. 1, 2025.
“This is a significant resolution for the borough … the chief has indicated his desire to retire,” Mayor Jim Davy said, who had first announced in June that Pinelli had submitted his retirement letter.
“I can’t begin to state what Doug has done for our police force since being made chief in 2020,” Council President Catherine Chandler. “Under his leadership, our police force is better trained, equipped, and prepared for the challenges it faces [more] than ever.”
Before the council passed the resolution, Councilman John Valenza thanked Pinelli for his service to the community.
“Having grown up with him I know how much he cares about Pennington and how much it means to him and how he brought that extra level of compassion and care to work every day,” he said. “I think we all benefitted from it, so thank you so much Doug.
“I wish you nothing but the best in retirement and hope you enjoy it, and you have many, many years of health and happiness with your loved ones.”
The mayor and council seconded Valenza’s comments and echoed in agreement with his remarks.
Pinelli had previously shared that retiring was “one of the hardest decisions” he had to make, but ultimately “it was time.”
“It took a lot of back and forth,” he said.
Pinelli, who has served with the Pennington Police Department for 20 years, became the borough’s chief of police in 2020, first serving as interim chief and then appointed chief after his employment agreement was authorized by borough council that year.
He has led the police department as chief since the retirement of former Public Safety Director William Meytrott and Pennington’s switch from a public safety director model to police chief.
Pinelli joined the Pennington police force in 2004 and served as patrol officer until he was promoted to sergeant in 2016. The next year, he was promoted to sergeant first class.
Prior to the police department, he was a member of Pennington Fire Company from 2000 to 2005 serving as chief. He is a life member of the Pennington Fire Department.
Pinelli worked through the ranks of the fire company to become chief and resigned when he started as a police officer with the Pennington Police Department.
Prior to joining the Pennington police force, Pinelli served in the Belmar Police Department as a Class II officer for a couple years and was also employed by the Hopewell Township Public Works Department.
His longtime service to Pennington is not unexpected. Pinelli’s father, Michael Pinelli and his brother, David Pinelli, are former fire chiefs of the Pennington Fire Company.
Pinelli’s father also worked for Pennington as the superintendent of public works.
