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Murphy had been running the department the past several weeks after an email surfaced in which Fox advocated racial profiling.
Last month, the council busted Fox to patrolman and suspended him for 180 days without pay after acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal found that the email violated state Attorney General guidelines.
“Under the supervision of Lt. Murphy and his hardworking team, our police department has implemented necessary changes to department policy and training to ensure the highest standards of law enforcement for all residents and visitors,” Mayor Kevin J. Rooney said.
“The township committee has full confidence in Lt. Murphy’s ability to lead our police department as acting chief," Rooney said. "We appreciate his dedication to the highest standard of law enforcement and public safety.”
Murphy has 21 years of law enforcement experience, including the past decade as a supervisor.
Rooney called him a "highly trained and decorated officer" who has received the END DWI Award twice from the state Assembly in Trenton.
He's also received several letters of merit, as well as a pair of commendations for his responses to armed robberies of a jewelry store in 2001 and 2011.
Murphy also has received the 9-11 Dana Hannon Distinguished Service Award and served as a volunteer township firefighter for 25 years -- including four years as chief.
i“This unanimous appointment serves as the logical next step in our effort to ensure that the Wyckoff Police Department protects those they have been sworn to serve," Rooney said. "Under Acting Chief Murphy’s leadership, we have no doubt that our police officers will continue to operate with the utmost respect for everyone in our community.”
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