Message from Chief Michael McCann

Welcome to the website for the River Vale Police Department. River Vale is in northern Bergen County, New Jersey, located approximately 20 minutes from New York City.  Although our population of approximately 10,500 residents is relatively small, our area of responsibility, approximately 4.2 square miles, is one of the largest in the county.  Our mission is to provide safety, security, crime prevention and criminal investigation to those within the Township, while protecting the constitutional rights of all, and maintaining the highest quality of police service.  We are attempting to improve the delivery of police services through a partnership with the community.

The River Vale Police Department, under the command of Chief Michael J. McCann, is available to assist its residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  In addition to police service, the River Vale Police Department is also the primary dispatch coordination center for the Fire Department and Ambulance Corps.

The River Vale Police Department is staffed with 21 Police Officers, 2 Civilian Dispatchers and an Administrative Assistant. 

We have been nationally recognized as one of the safest communities in the country, primarily due to proactive officers on patrol. In addition to patrol we also provide the following services:

Car Seat Inspection and Installation                    Home Security Inspection
Home Checks While Away on Vacation              Junior Police Academy
Detective Bureau                                                      Fingerprinting Bureau
Records Bureau                                                       DARE
Project Kid Card                                                       Swift Reach
Community Policing Unit                                       Communications Bureau
Senior Monitoring                                                    Helping Hands

The River Vale Police Department is dedicated to the protection of life and property, preservation of the public peace and the prevention of crime.

Our lines of communication are always open. To pay a compliment, file a complaint, or to make a suggestion about police services or conduct, you may contact the River Vale Police Department at (201) 664-1111.

Please feel free to visit our website  www.rivervalenj.org/RVPD.

Chief Michael McCann began his Law Enforcement career in 1988 with the Haworth Police Department.  In 1994, he transferred to the River Vale Police Department as a Patrolman.  In 1995, Michael was assigned to the Detective Bureau and was promoted in 1998 to the rank of Detective Sergeant.  After a noteworthy term in the Detective Bureau, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2001 and assigned to command the operations division.  In 2007, Michael was promoted to the rank of Captain and assigned as the department’s Executive Officer.  On January 1, 2009, Michael McCann was promoted to the rank of Chief of Police of the River Vale Police Department.

In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities at the River Vale Police Department, Michael is a member of the Board of Advisors of the National Association of Bunco Investigators, which he served as National President in 2005-2006.  Michael is also an appointed member of the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute Police Training Advisory Board, where he has served since 2007.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration and is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Education.  In 2010, Michael attended and graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy 240th Session, a 10-week course of study in Quantico, Virginia.