Acting Top Cop Resigns

New Jersey's interim state police superintendent resigned Thursday, leaving the job and a chance at the permanent position to run for state Senate.

Lt. Col. Frederick H. Madden, the department's former deputy superintendent of administration, was named acting superintendent in October.

He was Gov. James E. McGreevey's choice to replace former Superintendent Joseph Santiago, whose troubled tenure was marked by two reprimands from the attorney general.

"At my request, he came out of retirement to serve, under difficult circumstances, and I am personally grateful for that," McGreevey said in a statement.

A state police spokesman said Madden was unavailable for immediate comment Thursday afternoon.

Madden, who had been one of those considered as a permanent replacement, becomes the fourth man in nearly four years to leave the superintendent's office.

Acting Attorney General Peter C. Harvey will oversee Madden's duties until someone is hired. It was unclear if Madden's resignation would affect that search, already months behind McGreevey's original plan to have the job filled by December.

After retiring in July, Madden joined the Gloucester County prosecutor's office. Madden had served 27 years in the state police; his final post was acting superintendent before Santiago was sworn in.

Madden is preparing to run as a Democrat for the state Senate in Gloucester County in November.

He will run for the seat now held by John J. Matheussen, the Republican appointed by McGreevey on Wednesday to the Delaware River Port Authority.

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Author: NBC10/AP