Since October of 2002, Chief Barnwell has been serving in the capacity of an employee at the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. At this point in time, he has been working in law enforcement for a total of 29 years, of which 15 years were spent in a supervisory role. In his present role, acting Officer in charge (OIC) of the Clark Police Department in addition to holding the position of Chief of Detectives at the Union County Prosecutor’s Office (UCPO), Chief Barnwell is responsible for supervising the day-to-day operations of the investigative team.
My promotion to the position of Lieutenant in the Criminal Case Control Unit took effect on February 12, 2018. The responsibilities include, but are not limited to, supervising three Detective Sergeants and seventeen detectives, as well as providing support to eighteen Assistant Prosecutors working in a variety of units, including the Trial Unit, Megan’s Law, Bail Reform, the Juvenile Unit, and the Domestic Violence Unit. Prior to that, Chief Barnwell served on the Homicide Task Force. The duties included, but were not limited to, the supervision of three Detective Sergeants, six Union County Prosecutor’s Detectives, and four Task Force Detectives; supported six Assistant Prosecutors with homicides, suspicious deaths, baby deaths, and motor vehicle fatalities; and serving as the lead detective on several old homicides (1976 homicide of Lena Triano and 2005 homicide of Williametta Moore).
In September of 2008, Chief Barnwell became an acting supervisor and remained in that position for two years and six months, being so promoted to the rank of Sergeant in July of 2010. Prior to his assignment to homicide, he was assigned to the Criminal Case Management Unit. Previously, Chief Barnwell was employed by the Irvington Police Department for a period of eight years and two months.
During his time with the Irvington Police Department, Chief Barnwell was assigned to several units and county task forces, including the Irvington Police Department Detective Bureau; Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force; Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force; Irvington Police Department Narcotics Unit, and Patrol Unit.
Chief Barnwell has conducted countless investigations and made arrests for different drug offenses, aggravated assaults, sexual assaults, carjackings, robberies, and murders.
In addition to my many years of experience as a police officer on the front lines, Chief Barnwell has also taken advantage of several educational and training opportunities. Currently, he is an Ed.D. Dissertation candidate in the K-12 School Administration program at Seton Hall University. Chief Barnwell also has a Master’s in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Thomas Edison College, an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice from Essex County College, and a Master’s in Education from Seton Hall University. In 2017, he completed his studies at the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Command and Leadership Academy and earned my police officer’s certification.
Chief Barnwell also teaches at the Union County Police Academy and as an adjunct lecturer at Union County College.
Experience
Chief of the Union County Prosecutor’s Officer June 2021- present
Officer in charge of the Clark Police Department July 2020 – present
Years at UCPO: 20
Years in Law Enforcement: 29
Current Rank of Deputy Chief: Acting 11/2020, Official 3/1/21
Years as Captain: 2
Years as Lieutenant: 5
Years as Sergeant: 3
1994-2002 Irvington Police Department, Patrol, Detective. Narcotics, Gun report coordinator
1997-1999 Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Narcotics
1999-2002 Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force
2002-2003 Union County Prosecutor’s Office Criminal Case Unit
2003-2018 Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Homicide Task Force
2018-July 2018 Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Criminal Case Control Unit
July 2018-Present Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Criminal Case Control Unit, and Homicide