Despite a whistleblower lawsuit and warnings from local and state officials, the Dover Town Council in Morris County voted Monday to eliminate the police chief and replace him with a civilian public safety director.
In a 6–3 vote, the mayor and council removed police Chief Jonathan Delaney from his job, despite a contract that wasn’t set to expire until Dec. 31, 2029.
Delaney filed a lawsuit Sept. 25 claiming Dodd wanted him fired for not endorsing him in a primary six years ago.
Delaney has been a police officer with Dover Township since January 1, 2009, and earned an annual salary of more than $192,500, according to public records.
“Dodd’s actions show a disturbing pattern of disenfranchising Dover residents and consolidating power for himself,” Councilwoman Daniella Mendez said in a statement to NJ Advance Media before the vote.
“By eliminating the chief of police position in favor of appointing a hand-picked loyalist as director of public safety, he is making a blatant power grab that undermines accountability and transparency,” Mendez said.
Dodd did not immediately respond on Wednesday to a request for comment on the lawsuit or the vote.
It was not immediately clear whether a public safety director has been chosen.
Delaney filed a lawsuit Thursday in Superior Court of Morris County, accusing Dodd of waging a yearslong campaign of retaliation after the police chief refused to endorse his mayoral bid in 2019.
According to the complaint, Dodd has repeatedly slandered...
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