By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Mercer County announced that Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey recently announced her
appointment of Brian Kiely as Chief of Mercer County Detectives and Anthony Petracca as Deputy Chief of County Detectives for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
“Brian and Tony are both consummate professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience,” Prosecutor Marbrey said. “Brian has been instrumental during my first year as prosecutor as an asset in advancing my priorities and vision for the office. I look forward to working with them as we continue to promote justice for all, strengthen public safety, and bridge the gap between law enforcement and our communities in Mercer County.”
Chief Brian Kiely has dedicated the majority of his 26-year law enforcement career to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. After graduating from college, he worked first as a civil investigator, then as a state investigator, for the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, MCPO officials say.
In 2002, MCPO officials said, he was assigned to the DCJ Major Narcotics Bureau. He spent a year with the U.S. Customs Narcotics Interdiction Unit identifying drug couriers entering the country through Newark Liberty International Airport. In 2006, Kiely joined the MCPO as a detective. He rose through the ranks, acquiring extensive experience conducting and coordinating multi-agency criminal investigations.
During his time as a sergeant, he supervised the Trial, Grand Jury, and Juvenile units, as well as the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force. As lieutenant and captain, Kiely supervised all Major Crimes units, including Special Victims, Internet Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking, Human Law Enforcement, and the Mercer County Homicide Task Force, according to Mercer County officials.
As deputy chief, Kiely played a critical role in initiating ARRIVE Together in Mercer County and acquiring a digital evidence management system to centralize, streamline, and digitize evidence, Mercer County officials say. He also shaped the office’s Barricaded Individual Policy, joining mental health professionals, tactical responders, and the Prosecutor’s Office to promote safe resolutions of encounters between the police and barricaded individuals, who are frequently in a behavioral or mental health crisis.
Kiely has prioritized violent crime reduction, advancements in crime-fighting technology, and engaging with the Mercer County community and its law enforcement partners. During his law enforcement career, Kiely has received numerous honors from local, county, and state law enforcement agencies, including a certificate of appreciation from the Drug Enforcement Administration for outstanding contributions in the field, the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association (NJNEOA) Law Enforcement Award, an Innovation Award for Operation Golden Triangle, and the Top Gun Award, according to MCPO officials.
In 2005, MCPO officials said, he received the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Director’s Award for Outstanding Investigation and Dedication to Criminal Investigations. Kiely earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is a graduate of the Division of Criminal Justice Police Academy and the FBI LEEDA Supervisor Institute. He also attended the FBI Mid-Atlantic Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar in 2024.
According to Mercer County officials, Kiely volunteers his time at community events, including Special Olympics. He is also an Eagle Scout advisor with Scouting America and has previously served as Scoutmaster of Troop 180A. Deputy Chief Anthony Petracca, a lifelong resident of New Jersey, began his law enforcement career in 1995 as a member of the former Princeton Borough Police Department. He was assigned to the Patrol Division and later became a member of the community policing Safe Neighborhood Unit.
In 2001, Petracca joined the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office as a detective. He was assigned to various units, including the Grand Jury and the Domestic Violence. He spent six years in the Special Investigations Unit and nine years assigned to the Special Victims, Trial, and Insurance Fraud units before retiring from the Prosecutor’s Office in 2020, MCPO officials said.
Mercer County officials say following his retirement, Petracca worked for the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District before joining the West Windsor Police Department, where he most recently served as a Special Law Enforcement Officer Class III. During his law enforcement career, Petracca has received numerous accolades, including the 1999 Princeton Borough Officer of the Year, the NJNEOA Law Enforcement Award, and the New Jersey Sex Crimes Officers Association Outstanding Law Enforcement Award.
Petracca earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University, where he minored in political science, and a master’s degree in education from Seton Hall University, according to Mercer County officials. In 2004, he graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law with a Juris Doctor.