By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Police Chief David J. Dudeck has not communicated to the town whether he plans to retire or fight allegations of administrative misconduct that the police union has lodged against him, administrator Robert W. Bruschi said Monday.
”We haven’t given him a deadline,” Mr. Bruschi said after he, Mayor Liz Lempert, members of Council and one of its lawyers met in closed session in Town Hall for about 90 minutes, during which time the issue came up. “Obviously, we’re in contact with Dave to try to move the process forward, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Mayor Lempert declined to take questions as she left the meeting accompanied by Councilwoman Heather H. Howard, the police commissioner.
The town said it could not disclose the substance of the allegations against the chief, nor would it say if the allegations, if proven true, rose to the level of him needing to be fired.
Chief Dudeck, out on vacation time, has not been at work since Feb.26. He could not be reached for comment Monday. The department is being run by Capt. Nicholas K. Sutter in his absence.
The matter has been referred to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for a possible investigation, although one has not started, Mr. Bruschi said. He did say the town has had “discussions” with the Prosecutor’s Office.
”No matter what happens with this, we’re going to revisit a lot of things with regards to the Police Department to make sure that we have a situation down there where the employees believe that it’s conducive to a good work environment,” Mr. Bruschi said.
