PRINCETON: Dudeck selected to become police chief

By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
   Borough Police Chief David Dudeck was unanimously recommended for the chief of police position for the consolidated police department next year by the two governing bodies and the personnel selection committee this week.
   When the new governing body takes office, the recommendation will be finalized and Chief Dudeck will be sworn in.
   He was chosen over two other applicants—Township Acting Chief Christopher Morgan and Township Lt. Robert Toole.
   Acting Chief Morgan was the only candidate present at the June 25 joint governing bodies meeting. After the announcement he said he was happy for Chief Dudeck and the two departments will move forward with the consolidation of the two departments.
   ”I think he brings a lot of experience to the police department and our goal will be to create a police department everyone will be proud of,” said Acting Chief Morgan. “We have two outstanding police departments now made of professional men and women and I’m sure that will carry over to the new police department. I’m sure everyone will support the decision.”
   He was unsure of where he will fall in the new department.
   The personnel selection committee, which includes Township Committeewoman Sue Nemeth, Township Deputy Mayor Liz Lempert, Borough Mayor Yina Moore, Councilman Roger Martindell and Councilwoman Jo Butler, interviewed the three candidates on Monday.
   Mayor Moore did not have any comment on the selection, noting she was on the selection committee.
   Township mayor Chad Goerner was pleased with the outcome because of the process that was implemented.
   ”What was important for me all along was that we had a fair selection process,” he said. “When the governing bodies agreed to that at our last joint meeting I felt very confident that the process would allow us to have a process to put in place a chief that has the legitimacy to integrate the two departments. I think if it were done any other way there would always be questions.”
   The borough administrator and the acting township administrator were very pleased with the outcome.
   ”We should be really happy as a community that we have the talent that we have available to us,” said Robert Bruschi, borough administrator, as he made the announcement at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. “The two other applicants who are two lieutenants from Princeton Township bring a lot to the table and were are a really lucky community.”
   Mr. Bruschi pointed out that with all the talent at the top of the police department, the new agency is setting up with succession planning in mind.
   ”One of the things I have been pushing in the whole consolidation process is succession planning, and we are clearly set up very well in our police department to handle that over the next 15 to 20 years,” he said, noting a solid team is in place to lead the department into the future. “We have some really, really talented and very dedicated individuals there.”
   ”It’s obvious the talent is significant in both police forces,” said Kathy Monzo, township administrator. “Rest assured we are picking from the best here.”
   She pointed out that those who did not apply gave “thoughtful” responses to the position posting.
   Chief Dudeck, who has 29 years with the force, took the top spot in the Borough Police Department in Dec. 2009, after former Chief Anthony Federico died suddenly in June of that year.
   At that time, borough Lt. Sharon Papp and now Capt. Nick Sutter were competing for the top spot. Neither chose to apply for the chief of the consolidated municipality, even though they were eligible.
   ”I have worked side by side with Chief Dudeck for going on eighteen years. He has my respect and loyalty as my Chief,” said Captain Nicholas Sutter, who is in the number two position in the borough department, on Monday afternoon. “To enter a process that could essentially lead to him losing a position he rightfully holds would violate that loyalty. I feel my entering the process would have just led to confusion and tension amongst the ranks that would not be beneficial to the Princeton Borough Police Department nor our new department. I fully support Chief Dudeck as my chief. I also hold a tremendous amount of respect for my colleagues in Princeton Township and completely respect their decisions to enter the process. They are in a completely different situation than I am. I wish all of the participants good luck and look forward to working with them in our new department.”
   Chief Dudeck began his career in 1983 as a rookie patrolman in the borough.
   The new chief lives in Hamilton with his wife, Amy, and their four children.
   Chief Dudeck grew up in Ewing, attended Notre Dame High School in Lawrence, spent a post-grad year at the Hun School in Princeton and graduated from Trenton State College in 1983.
   A tailback in college, Chief Dudeck has nurtured a lifelong passion for football. For more than 20 years, he has been head football coach at the Hun School.
   The process for making the next critical selection, the administrator of the new municipality, will begin on Friday, said Mr. Bruschi.