Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Kriebel swears in Joe Fussner as Ventnor Chief of Police, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, while his oldest daughter, Caitlin holds the Bible.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Kriebel Tuesday, Dec. 21 swore in Capt. Joe Fussner as chief of police, effective Jan. 1, 2022. Fussner takes the place of Chief Douglas Biagi, who will retire on Dec. 31 after 35 years in the Ventnor Police Department.
Kriebel said Fussner has attended weekly public safety meetings over the last year and submitted a 100-day plan for consideration of his appointment.
“You have a unique insight into what it’s like to be a police officer in this day and age, and I look forward to working with you during your tenure as chief,” Kriebel said before administering the oath of office.
Joseph Fussner records a video of his son Joe being sworn in as Chief of Police in Ventnor.
Fussner thanked his parents, Anne Marie and Joseph Fussner, both former educators in Ventnor and Atlantic City, for their guidance during his formative years.
“They taught me commitment when you get involved in something and to put your best effort forward 110%, and that stayed with me during my career here in the Police Department,” Fussner said.
He also thanked his wife Cindy, and three daughters Caitlyn, who held the Bible, Emily and Julie for their support during his career.
The Fussner family attended Joe Fussner’s swearing in ceremony.
“There have been a lot of sacrifices and holidays missed being a police officer. They understand what it takes to be a police officer and do the job,” he said.
He acknowledged his team of officers and members of the Fire Department for their support during the installation ceremony.
And finally, he thanked the commissioners for providing him with the opportunity to serve the city.
“I think we can work together and do good for the city,” he said.
Capt. Joe Fussner is in the Acting Police Chief role until Chief Douglas Biagi retires on Dec. 31.
Fussner started working in the Ventnor Police Department as a Class 1 officer in 1997. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Monmouth University and graduated from the Vineland Police Academy in 2000. His employment includes a brief stint as a dispatcher and several years as a community policing bicycle officer. He was promoted to sergeant in 2012, lieutenant in 2014 and was made captain in 2019. One of his duties as captain was to inform the media of important issues and arrests.
Fussner has extensive experience in motor vehicle crash investigations and has made more than 100 DWI arrests. He was awarded for his drunk driving prevention efforts by the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization.
“One of the reasons I got involved with that is that my parents were friends with Bill and Muriel Elliot, who started the HERO Campaign after their son, Navy Ensign John R. Elliot was killed by a drunk driver,” he said. “I saw how that incident devastated that family, and I thought I could make a difference.”
Although he did not maintain contact with a majority of the people he arrested for DWI, Fussner said several of those people have told him he made a difference in their lives.
“They thanked me and said the arrest woke them up and they were able to turn their lives around,” he said.
Fussner called himself “a street cop,” who was aggressive doing the job “the right way.”
In his 100 day plan, Fussner said he would like to revamp how police officers perform their jobs daily and employ more community policing strategies.
“With so much change coming from the Attorney General’s Office and the Legislature, we need to revamp law enforcement moving forward. We need to be more proactive, approachable and engage with the community more. We need to build relationships and rapport with residents, so they are more likely to approach us with their concerns before they become a big issue,” he said.
Capt. Joe Fussner and Chief Douglas Biagi.
Fussner said he is looking forward to “having a seat at the table” when the commissioners create new ordinances.
“Our main goal is to enforce the law, but we need to find a happy medium in dealing with the public,” he said.
The board approved a resolution establishing his base salary at $149,605.
City Hall workers gathered at the Knife & Fork Friday for Biagi’s farewell dinner. He did not attend the swearing in ceremony.
Douglas Biagi.
A lifelong resident of the city, Biagi started working as a police officer in 1988 and was promoted to sergeant in 1993, and captain in 2012. He was the 14th person to achieve the highest position in the Police Department when he was named chief in 2017. Before becoming an officer, Biagi worked as a firefighter and currently volunteers as president of the Board of Education.
“You will be missed,” Commissioner Lance Landgraf said at the meeting. “Your humor in times when we needed a laugh, and your guidance when we needed direction has been critical to this administration and its ability to improve the City of Ventnor.”
Although his accumulated sick day total exceeds $156,000, the board approved a “capped” payout of sick time at $60,000.
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