James Ryan

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT JAMES RYAN

As Deputy Chief of South Brunswick Police since 2018, James Ryan oversees all operations of the department daily. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Command and Leadership. Some of his leadership highlights include overseeing disaster relief and recovery post-Hurricane Sandy for Catholic Charities, creating the NJ Cop Shot reward program, and developing enhanced community outreach.James Ryan has been a leader in effective communication for over two decades. He has served as Public Information Officer from 2001 to the present. James Ryan has been at the forefront of media relations development and marketing efforts. During that time, the media has turned to him hundreds of times about crisis news events and emerging law enforcement issues. He implemented and managed the largest Nixle communication program in the nation. His innovative approach to social media allowed for the rapid expansion of law enforcement Twitter, now X, accounts. His over 20 years of public information officer experience has led him to be a resource for both national and local media when covering law enforcement issues. He has extensive dealings with New York and Philadelphia media markets, including working with WABC, WNBC, WCBS, Fox News, News 12, The Star-Ledger, The Home News Tribune, The Associated Press, NJ 101.5, and local media outlets. He has been recognized as one of the top public information officers in New Jersey. He instructs on media and image management and has extensive experience with coordinating crisis communication response and strategy. He is a recipient of the prestigious New Jersey State PBA Outstanding Officer Award for efforts to improve law enforcement imaging. He holds a Master’s Degree and is an adjunct professor at Middlesex County College. He has been a guest lecturer at Fordham and Seton Hall Law Schools as well as Rutgers University School of Communication. He has had numerous columns published on media relations and law enforcement. In 2024, a life-threatening emergency transformed his decades of law enforcement experience into delivering messages of service, hope, and faith.