Paul M. Cell Biography

Paul M. Cell is a 42-year veteran of law enforcement and is the Chief of Police at the Montclair State University Police Department, a position he has held since his appointment in April 2001. He will take the helm as IACLEA’s Executive Director on March 1.

He was the 2018-2019 President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the world’s largest association of police leaders serving more than 31,000 members in 165 countries. During his tenure on the Board of the IACP, he served as oversight Chair of the IACP National Security Policy Council (NSPC), which includes the Homeland Security Committee, Terrorism Committee, and the Intelligence Coordinating Panel. Before his leadership of the NSPC, he had oversight of the Technology Policy Council, which includes the Computer Crimes and Digital Evidence Committee, Communication & Technology Committee, Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Committee, and the Law Enforcement Technology Section.

In 2013, Chief Cell was sworn in as the 98th President of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) and Chairman of the New Jersey Police Chiefs Foundation. He served on the board of the NJSACOP six years before his role as president.

Chief Cell is a graduate of the 217th Session of the FBI National Academy and FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS.) Chief Cell is also a graduate and member of the Leadership in Counter-Terrorism, (LinCT) training program. He served as a director in the International Law Enforcement Federation, a United Nations recognized NGO. Upon his inauguration as President of the IACP in 2018, he received a two-year commission as a Special U.S. Marshal.

In 2015, Chief Cell was inducted into the New Jersey Police Honor Legion, and in 2017, was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He has received his BA and MAS from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD in Criminal Justice Leadership at Liberty University. He has completed international leadership programs around the globe.

Chief Cell travels extensively, conducting training and working with domestic and international law enforcement partners, government agencies, and officials. He is currently an adjunct professor in the School of Global Studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Chief Cell is the co-author and editor of the textbook Creating Comprehensive Sexual Assault Response Teams, now in its second edition.

Chief Cell is a member of the New Jersey Governor’s Advisory Council Against Sexual Violence Working Groupand is recognized across the United States for his work in developing sexual assault response and investigation protocols. He currently serves on the national board of Law Enforcement Against Drugs (LEAD), Operation One Community, The National White-Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and The National Stop the Violence Alliance.

In 2016, he was named the National Law Enforcement Ambassador of Stan Lee’s “Hands of Respect” Project. Chief Cell is a co-executive producer of the military documentary “Above the Best,” released in 2019. He is the recipient of numerous international awards and commendations. Chief Cell continues to appear on television, radio talk shows and in national publications as a law enforcement subject matter expert.