Former Pleasantville Police Chief Sean Riggin swears in Longport Police Chief Frank Culmone as president of the Atlantic County Chiefs of Police Association.

ATLANTIC CITY – The Atlantic County Police Chief Association’s installed Longport Police Chief Frank Culmone as its new president. Culmone was sworn in by outgoing President and retired Pleasantville Police Chief Sean Riggin during a ceremony held Tuesday, March 1 at Doc’s Oyster House.

Other 2022 officers of the Police Chiefs Association include Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel as vice president, Hamilton Township Police Chief Greg Ciambrone as secretary, Somers Point Police Chief Robert Somers as treasurer, and Atlantic City Police Chief James Sarkos as sergeant at arms. Retired Galloway Police Chief Donna Higbee administered their oaths of office.
Riggin was recognized for leading the organization during very difficult times and Higbee was honored with the Chief DePamphilis Award. The award is presented to someone who has contributed to the same spirit of cooperation and advancement of the profession as Chief DePamhilis envisioned.
The county association was formed in 1957 with retired Longport Police Chief Richard DePamphilis Sr. as its first president. The principal purpose of the Atlantic County Association of Chiefs of Police was to secure closer official and personal relationships among the chiefs of police, sheriffs, county prosecutors, chiefs of county detectives/investigators, and other law enforcement executives throughout Atlantic and Cumberland counties.
Culmone is a 21-year veteran in the law enforcement community. He is a life-long resident of Atlantic County, graduate of Holy Spirit High School Class of 1986, a 1999 graduate of Stockton University with a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice. He began his law enforcement career with the Longport Police Department in 2001 following his successful completion of the Camden County Police Academy training program. During his time as a patrol officer, Culmone became a NJ State Police drug recognition expert and a team member of the Atlantic County Emergency Response Team.

From left, retired Longport Police Chief Vince Pacentrilli, current Longport Police Chief Frank Culmone, and retired Longport Police Chief and current Borough Administrator A. Scott Porter.

Culmone was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2007 and soon graduated from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Command and Leadership program in 2009. In 2012, Culmone was promoted to the rank of lieutenant where he served administratively and was responsible for overseeing patrol operations.

Culmone was promoted chief of the Longport Police Department on April 1, 2015. He is a member of International Association of Chiefs of Police, the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Tactical Officers Association, and the Atlantic County Association of Chiefs of Police where he held the positions of treasurer and vice president. Culmone completed the Mid-Atlantic Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar in 2019, and in  2020, successfully completed the NJ Certified Public Manager Program program administered by the Civil Service Commission and delivered by Rutgers University.

Culmone with past and present members of the Longport Police Department.


Nanette LoBiondo Galloway

Award winning journalist covering news, events and people of Atlantic County for more than 20 years.