Continuing his efforts to move past the scandal surrounding the George Washington Bridge lane closings, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey on Thursday named an ombudsman to strengthen ethics policies in his office, and eliminated the department that an internal investigation found had rewarded and punished mayors across the state depending on whether they supported the governor’s re-election.

The moves were based on recommendations from lawyers Mr. Christie hired to do the internal investigation. He also said that he would propose legislation making it a crime for government officials not to report official misconduct by others.

In interviews with the lawyers, the governor’s staff described an intensely political atmosphere in the office that was eliminated, known as legislative and intergovernmental affairs. While it had been set up to answer concerns of legislators and municipal leaders, the office developed into an arm of the governor’s re-election campaign.

The office will be replaced by the Office of Community and Constituent Relations, which the governor’s office said would address the needs of the public “in a nonpartisan fashion.”