By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
An undisclosed “personnel” matter in the Princeton Police Department had Princeton Council members in no mood to talk Friday.
Both Jo S. Butler and Lance Liverman said they could not comment, and would not elaborate when pressed to do so.
However, speculation from several sources was that the matter involves Police Chief David J. Dudeck and his future with the department.
Neither Chief Dudeck nor Mayor Liz Lempert nor could be reached for comment.
The personnel issue surfaced only a week after the department announced the formation of a community policing unit and the creation of a survey for what the community expects out of its police force.
It also comes with the still-unresolved issue on how many officers the department should have, now that the formerly two departments have become one.
It also comes on the heals of an undisclosed settlement between the town and a police officer over a so-called whistle-blower suit.
Last week, Mayor Lempert said she, the chief and others would sit down later this year to do an analysis concerning that staffing issue.

