3rd Ward Council Member Tommy Gillen

Thomas "Tommy" Gillen Jr. proudly serves as the Third Ward Council Member for the City of Bayonne. A lifelong Bayonne resident and third-generation public servant, he brings 31 years of dedicated public-safety service to the City Council, and a deep commitment to the community he calls home.

Before his election, Councilman Gillen served with distinction in the Hudson County Sheriff's Office and the New Jersey Transit Police, advancing from 9-1-1 telecommunications through patrol, detective and investigative work, and ultimately to executive-level service as Aide to the Sheriff. In that role, he helped direct the agency's day-to-day operations and served as a trusted liaison among the Sheriff, government officials, clergy, and the community — working directly with the mayors of municipalities throughout Hudson County. His career was defined by sound judgment, discretion, and integrity. He now brings that same dedication and accessibility to serving the residents of Bayonne's Third Ward as a responsive advocate for their concerns.

Public service runs deep in the Gillen family. Councilman Gillen's late grandfather, John Gillen, served as a Jersey City police officer and later as the Hudson County Sheriff; his father, Thomas Gillen, is a retired Conrail police officer; and his late uncle, John Gillen, was a Jersey City police officer, along with other family members who have since retired from service. That legacy continues today: his brother is a Bayonne firefighter, his wife is a Lieutenant at the Hudson County Sheriff's Office, and his stepson is a Jersey City police officer, with cousins and a brother-in-law serving police agencies across the county.

Above all, Councilman Gillen is a devoted family man. He is a proud husband and father to his sons, Jack and Joseph, and his stepsons, Elijah and Gabriel; grandfather to two grandsons; and "dog dad" to his French Bulldog, Chuck.