JACKSON – The Township Council debated over the introduction of an ordinance to create the position of Director of Law and Public Safety. There was a lot of emotion with barbs between members of council and later critical remarks towards the police chief by members of two police unions.
Councilmen Nino Borrelli and Steve Chisholm voted against the creation of the position saying it hadn’t been fully researched. They said there was no reason to rush and that it would add another high salary for taxpayers to pay.
Council President Jennifer Kuhn and Councilmen Scott Sargent and Mordechai Burnstein voted for it, stating it was needed. The second reading of the ordinance will be heard during the council’s February 27 meeting. If it passes then, it would be made law soon after.
Kuhn said that a requirement of the position would be a minimum of 20 years police service with police management and that all applicants to be considered would have had to have held the rank of sergeant or higher.
The position would serve as a liaison between the Jackson Police Department and the Township Administration. Kuhn explained she and fellow council members met and spoke with the Jackson PBA unions and that the unions strongly recommended the addition of the position.
In a joint press release, the Jackson PBA (Police Benevolent Association) and SOA (Superior Officers Association) called for the position’s creation but it didn’t offer any reasons for it outside of stating that it “will lead to an increase in the safety of our residents and increase the efficiency of our department and would be welcomed by the men and women of our unions.”
This position is not new to the township. Jackson was run by a civilian director of public safety for more than 20 years before transitioning to a chief of police. Matthew Kunz became chief in 2008. He served as the public safety director for two years prior to that.
Under the proposed ordinance, the position does not replace the police chief or eliminate the position. The person who would fill this role would be tasked with helping make corrective recommendations to the administration such as: budgeted items, report on police department-related issues to the township, establish police performance and standards policy, and stay ahead of ever-changing New Jersey state mandates for reporting and accountability of local police departments as directed by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
Chief Kunz has served as Jackson’s law enforcement leader for 15 years. He has not had salary increase since January 1, 2018. His annual salary was $211,939.87 and his annual salary increase would bring that figure up to $216,178.60 according to township documents. The director could be paid up to $200,000 a year and between 30 to 40 percent in benefits.
During the public portion of the hearing, Kuhn invited the president of the SOA, Sgt. John Rodriguez, to speak first. He accused Kunz of failing to fill vacant positions and adequately responding to the growth experienced in Jackson by hiring additional staff.
He and later PBA President Jeffrey Henba were critical of Kunz’s performance as chief.
Chief Kunz, who was contacted by The Jackson Times prior to the meeting declined to comment about the position or an incident related to the ordinance’s creation. He spoke during the council meeting calling much of what Rodriguez and Henba said as inaccurate.
Rodriguez specified the criticism toward Kunz wasn’t personal. He also requested that the new public safety director should come from the ranks of the superior officers claiming this would save taxpayers money.
The department’s last contract, that ends in 2026, provided base salary increases of 4.5%, 4.5%, 4% and 4%. Currently, a patrolman at the top of the pay scale – reached in eight steps – earns $147,052.
That will rise to $159,052 in 2026. That is base pay and does not include overtime pay or extra-duty pay.
During the vote, Kuhn cut off Chisholm in mid-sentence when he brought up a letter sent to the council by the state police chiefs association that threatened litigation over the language of the ordinance.
The New Jersey Police Chiefs Association position on municipalities that have police chiefs and public safety directors on the payroll at the same time has not been positive.
“Documented cases of contentious struggles over administrative control of police departments throughout the State of New Jersey have occurred since the early times of organized police departments. Often the struggle for control over the management of the police department between police professionals and elected government officials results in bickering and feuding,” the organization stated.
It added that the disagreements, “impedes the effective operation of the police organization. Elected officials have attempted to wrestle managerial authority away from chiefs of police for a number of reasons. The issues of control and influence over the police function and the desire to regulate the salaries of top-level police executives have often emerged as motives for civilian control.”
Kuhn said she responded to the letter by amending the ordinance that afternoon in a manner that would satisfy those concerns.
The council president didn’t explain how the ordinance was amended. Chisholm said he wasn’t notified of that and argued that the vote should be deferred and also recommended that the matter be put on the ballot.
“My concern is about the rush to push it through. If it’s a good idea, it can wait another two weeks or another two months,” Chisholm said.
Kuhn admonished Borrelli while he was concluding his comments and noting concerns about the creation of the position. He noted the position was limited in what it can do and would perform many of the same administrative duties that Chief Kunz performs.
Borrelli also brought up that Jackson was one of the safest communities around and didn’t see how the position would improve public safety. He suggested the ordinance be tabled to give the council more time to consider it adding he has always been a supporter of the township police department and would “continue wholeheartedly supporting the men and women in blue.”
Before he finished his remarks, Kuhn interjected, “By voting no?”
Alleged Inappropriate Incident
Several residents contacted The Jackson Times pointing to an incident they said was associated with the creation of the new position. The incident involves a recently retired police detective who, while working there, allegedly was caught having sex in the building with a civilian employee of the Jackson Police Department.
Several online media sites posted articles featuring the salacious details of this incident including the name of the woman who allegedly was found with the police lieutenant. Chief Kunz called out those media sites as being irresponsible in their coverage and said a proper investigation had been conducted.
Some residents however are questioning what disciplinary action was taken against the officer and if any investigation was minimized prior to his abrupt retirement.
Other Ordinances Introduced
Four other ordinances were approved for introduction. They included Ordinance 07-24 that involves penalties for trespassing on public property, while Ordinance 08-24 involves rezoning a section of the township. Ordinance 09-24 involves landlord registration.
An ordinance approved on second reading involved the addition of another alternate member to the Municipal Utilities Authority. Those ordinances will have their second reading on February 27.
