Police Chief Receives Highland Alumni Honor

Gloucester Township Police Chief W. Harry Earle received the 2012 Highland Regional High School Virginia C. Forneron Outstanding Alumni Career Award Thursday night during a ceremony held at Masso's Columbus Manor, in Williamstown.

Earle is a 1985 Highland graduate. He has worked at the police department since 1987, when he took a job there as a part-time dispatcher.

"I'm very honored quite honestly—one, to have been nominated and, two, to be chosen," Earle said Friday afternoon. "I'm certainly proud. ... It's been a fantastic career for me and an education in and of itself."

Deputy Chief David Harkins and Mayor David Mayer nominated Earle for the honor.

Earle walked to and from school along Church Street while a student at Highland, which he has always looked at as "the center of Gloucester Township." It was his personal experience as a student walker that influences his decisions as police chief, particularly when it comes to student safety.

"I've always felt our crossing guards are an important part of what we do," he said. "Living that as I was growing up, I guess I understand how important that is to people."