Elphick views herself as a cop first, trailblazer last

Elphick views herself as a cop first, trailblazer last
By: Robert Foreman

 Kimberly Elphick has had a career of breaking down barriers during her time in law enforcement. After joining the Secaucus Police Department in 2003, she became the first female to obtain the rank of Sergeant in 2013. Not choosing to rest on her laurels, Elphick was promoted to Lieutenant in March 2020, making her the first female in her department to obtain that rank. However, she does not choose to view herself as a trailblazer.

 “I see myself as a law enforcement officer. I do consider many female officers before me to be trailblazers and I thank them for showing the necessity of diversity within this field. As society has evolved, so has the need for that within our profession. If someone were to doubt opportunity within law enforcement, and I can contribute to be a catapult of their motivation to go for it, I am honored,” said Elphick.  “I believe my promotions are the same for me as they are my male counterparts. I have looked forward to my new roles/responsibilities, eager to learn to be the best supervisor I can be for the men and women of my Department, because that is what they deserve.”

 Elphick added that she has not encountered any resistance during her rise in the ranks from either male or female officers. She stressed that the hiring and promotional process is both fair and thorough, and that she considers herself “lucky to be a member of a forward-moving department.”

Born and raised in Secaucus, Elphick earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology from Manhattan College where she also played Division I Volleyball. Additionally, she earned her Master’s Degree in Law Enforcement Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University with Graduate Certificates in Cyber Security and Forensic Administration. While her grandfather was a Detective Lieutenant for the Hoboken Police Department, her journey to law enforcement was influenced by events far greater than family ties.

“I am also a 9/11 survivor where, as a civilian, I was employed by Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Systems.  I managed corporate fitness centers in the World Trade Center and World Financial Center.  The first-hand experience of the selflessness and heroism I witnessed from the first responders that day propelled me into this field,” said Elphick.

When asked what her best and worst experiences were during her law enforcement career, Elphick noted that she does not have a moment that falls into either classification.

“Law enforcement can, by nature, be great one moment, followed by not so great the next, and vice versa. The only thing we can do to prepare for both is to continually educate ourselves and our subordinates so that we have the tools for the best outcomes possible, all while caring for ourselves,” said Elphick. “I feel my generation of law enforcement has turned into an accepting one. Misconceptions are becoming a thing of the past by any officer proving him/herself capable of the requirements. Diversity in law enforcement across gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, etc. is growing and putting misconceptions to rest. This is useful in our profession to mirror societal norms and serve our communities more effectively. 

While there are those who have already mapped out a second career once their law enforcement days are over, Elphick is not one of them.

“I'm not certain what career path I will take, but my passion is traveling so I intend to incorporate a lot of that into my schedule,” said Elphick.