Who Will Be Princeton's New Police Chief?

Princeton Borough Police Chief David Dudeck is the only police chief between both Princeton Borough and Princeton Township, but simply appointing him chief of a consolidated Princeton may not be a done deal.

Princeton's two police unions have sent a joint letter requesting a process for appointing a police chief in a consolidated Princeton. 

The letter from the officers of both police departments asks for a process that would allow anyone with the rank of lieutenant, captain or chief be allowed to apply for chief, Borough Administrator Robert Bruschi said. 

Bruschi did not release the letter publically on Wednesday, saying he must wait until after distributing it to the governing body. 

"They're advocating for a process, it would set who could apply," Bruschi said "If you want to apply, let us know by X date, here's what you have to do." 

When the residents of the two Princetons decided to consolidate, it was anticipated that one of the two police chiefs would be chosen for the new post. Then Township Police Chief Robert Buchanan retired. Since then, Township Committee appointed Lt. Christopher Morgan to acting chief, but Morgan is expected to assume his old position on Jan. 1, 2013. 

"The (consolidation) report that was written never contemplated one chief resigning ahead of time," Bruschi said. 

Mark Freda, chairman of the Transition Task Force and who sits on that group's public safety subcommittee, said various legal opinions by different people have been offered about this issue. He said even public safety subcommittee members don't agree on how a new chief should be chosen. But Freda personally believes the process is very clear. 

"You have one chief today, that chief should be chief of the new department," Freda said. "The PBA basically cited all this stuff, but I think they cited statutes that don't apply to consolidation, it applies to if you're a single town."

Princeton Township Mayor Chad Goerner said the unions' suggestion is one to consider, because it would set out a fair process and could avoid launching a new merged police department with potential strife. 

Members of Borough Council and Township Committee are expected to make a recommendation about the chief's position or a new process to select a chief on June 26. 

Regardless of who the governing bodies appoint chief, Princeton's new officials who take office on Jan. 1, 2013 could potentially reverse any decision made in 2012, Freda said.