Manchester Police Promote Pair to Lieutenant

Robert Dolan and Todd Malland have worked together, on and off, in the Manchester Police Department over the years.

On Wednesday afternoon, the duo was reunited – with each other and with other long-time co-workers – during promotion ceremonies at the Manchester Township .

“During my testing, I said it was kind of like getting the band back together,” Dolan told the crowd of family members and fellow officers after he and Malland were formally promoted to lieutenants.

The band, it turns out, includes Chief of Police Brian Klimakowski, Capt. Lisa Parker and Detective Sgt. Joseph Howell.

“We all worked together at one point,” Dolan said.

That band has a bond – one that stirred Malland’s emotions. After thanking his wife, Melissa, for her patience during the many hours of preparation that were invested in his quest for the promotion, he reserved special thanks for one other person.

“There’s one other person I need to thank,” Malland said, pausing as he got choked up. “The chief went out of his way to bring my dad to the ceremony,” he said, motioning to his father who sat on an ambulance stretcher on one side of the room. “It wasn’t easy, but Superman over there made it happen,” Malland said, and added a thank you to the Manchester First Aid Squad crew who had transported his father from Shorrock Gardens Care Center in Brick to the ceremony.

“Two words: The world,” said Donald Malland, of what it meant to be at his son’s promotion ceremony. “I’m so very proud of him. I could burst.”

Todd Malland was the only one of Donald’s three sons to follow in his footsteps as a police officer. Donald Malland spent his career as an officer in the Seaside Heights department.

Klimakowski said the promotions were the culmination of hours of hard work invested by both men.

“It is not an easy process,” he said. “It required tremendous time and dedication by the candidates.” Four officers took part in the testing process, which took nine weeks to complete and took into account seniority, performance evaluations, education and oral and written exams.

“The process is very competitive and usually brings out the worst in people,” Klimakowski said. “But these men kept it clean and I applaud them for that.”

Mayor Michael Fressola, who administered the oaths, praised the officers for their commitment and professionalism, while Councilman Brendan Weiner congratulated them, adding, “You make my job a lot easier.”

Dolan, who was joined by his wife, Lisa, sons Ryan, 13, and John, 12, and daughter Emily, 9, as well extended family, began working for Manchester as a dispatcher in 1993. He became a patrolman the following year and served in the juvenile unit, the detective division and the administrative and support service section of the department, where he coordinated construction of the township-wide trunked radio system.

“In Bob’s 18-year career he has served in or overseen just about every unit within the police department,” Klimakowski said, noting Dolan, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers and a master’s from Fairleigh Dickinson University, has received awards for exceptional service and a live-saving medal, among others.

Mallard, whose wife, Melissa, and sons Matthew, 9, Christopher, 6, and Nicholas, 3, also were in attendance, joined the Manchester force in July 1997 and has served in the patrol and investigations divisions. He also spent 18 months with the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force. Malland, who received the Walter Witt Presidents Award, and also is responsible for setting up the relationship between the township and that allows the town to sell various surplus property and unclaimed items from the township. Most recently he had been mentoring some of the department’s newest officers.

In addition, Malland completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson in 2-1/2 years to enable him to compete for the two lieutenants’ positions. Dolan had the highest score, while Malland was second.