Lieutenant McNish is a graduate of Rutgers University.  He began his law enforcement career as a patrolman with the Hardyston Twp. Police Department in June 2000.  He transferred to the Fairfield Police Department in January 2002 and quickly became involved in the Community Policing Unit, where he was the department’s D.A.R.E. officer for eight years.  

 

In 2008 he was assigned as a detective in the Investigative Section.  Soon after, in 2009, he was promoted to Sergeant, where he was reassigned to the Patrol Section as a patrol squad supervisor.  In 2019, he became the sergeant in charge of the Special Enforcement Unit (SEU), where he would oversee the four-officer unit that primarily dealt with traffic enforcement and traffic related issues.  Lt. McNish is currently a part of the department’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) as one of the department’s hostage negotiators He has been a field training officer for new officers and has led the School Security and the Homeland Security Units. 

 

In June 2021, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and was named the Professional Standards Section commander, where he oversees the department’s internal affairs, accreditation and health and wellness units.

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Professional Standards Section

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The Professional Standards Section is found within the Special Services Division and is responsible for ensuring that members of the department meet the highest standards of professional conduct, integrity  and are responsive to the citizens they serve. This section is also responsible for the thorough investigation of all complaints of misconduct against members of the department and carries out the disciplinary process. The Professional Standards Section reports directly to the Chief of Police. In addition, the department's Accreditation Unit and Health and Wellness Unit is located in this section.

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Professional Standards Section Supervisor:

• Sergeant Thomas Myers #77