ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.—On June 27, William Henkelman was sworn in as Englewood Cliffs’ new chief of police. Promoted from the rank of lieutenant, his appointment comes eight months after his predecessor, Chief Michael Cioffi, stepped down and Officer-in-Charge Lt. David Hill temporarily ran the department.
Henkelman’s swearing-in ceremony was held at 5 p.m. at the Englewood Cliffs courthouse at 10 Kahn Terrace. The room was filled to capacity with residents, guests, council members and fellow law enforcement officers all on hand to wish him well.
Among the elected officials were Mayor Mario M. Kranjac, Council President Gloria Oh, Councilman Edward Aversa, Councilman Jimmy Song, Councilman William Woo, and Borough Administrator Lisette Duffy.
Police chiefs from Norwood, Demarest and Fort Lee also came to honor Henkelman.
Henkelman is very popular with his colleagues.
“The mayor and council have made a good selection with Henkelman, and the police department is now moving forward,” said ECPD Capt. Brian Murphy.
As the swearing-in ceremony began, Mayor Kranjac welcomed everyone and praised the new police chief.
“With our new police chief, we are moving positively and for the betterment of the community and the police department. Chief Henkelman assured me that he will continue the good work that was started this past October by Lt. David Hill, and I thank Lt. Hill for his leadership,” said Kranjac.
Addressing Henkelman, Kranjac said, “I wish you and all the officers of the Englewood Cliffs Police Department continued newfound harmony in your role as law enforcement officers. I will do everything possible to support you. I also ask our community to come together and support Chief Henkelman and the police department in carrying out their mission and your safety.”
In concluding, Kranjac said, “Over the next few months, Chief Henkelman and I will be reaching out to the community by hosting a series of get-togethers for our residents to let us know what is on their minds and to offer suggestions and to voice their concerns.”
Henkelman was then administered the oath of office by Judge Mark Saperstein, as his wife, Alexis stood by his side and held the Bible.
Henkelman thanked his colleagues for having taken time from their busy schedules—some of whom had been on duty since 7 a.m. that day—to attend the event, and he offered his gratitude to the community.
“Thank you for placing your confidence in me. I will work hard for the residents of Englewood Cliffs,” Henkelman said.
With great poignancy, Henkelman also thanked his friends and family, particularly his mother and father and his wife.
“There have been a lot of occasions missed, a lot of sacrifices made, but it was all worth it,” he said. “The guys of the Englewood Cliffs Police Department are the best. They are dedicated and work so hard. I may be the one standing here tonight in front of everybody, but this is about all of us.”
After the swearing in, everyone was invited to a reception at the Bicycle Club.
Henkelman graduated from New Jersey City University in 1998 with a degree in criminal justice and was hired by the Englewood Cliffs Police Department in December of 2000. He then attended basic police academy at the Bergen County Law & Public Safety Institute in Mahwah, part of class 86.
Henkelman spent the first 12 years of his career as a patrolman and was promoted to sergeant in 2012. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2013 and then worked as a tour commander.
Henkelman assisted in the department becoming an accredited agency in 2014 and again in 2017.
Additionally, Henkelman is a firearms instructor, EMT, department grant writer and Internal Affairs Officer. He was also inducted into the Honor Legion for a firearms arrest.