Bridgewater Police Chief Paul Payne To Retire, Walk Out Ceremony Planned

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater Police Chief Paul Payne will be retiring after serving 25 years with the township police department.

His official retirement will take effect on Sept. 1 with a walkout ceremony scheduled for Aug. 26 at 4 p.m.

"This is a voluntary decision I made with a promise I made to my wife years ago and the support of my family. No other reasons have made me make this decision," said Payne.

Payne was appointed Chief of Police in July 2020. Payne served in the Bridgewater Police Department for 25 years starting as an officer in 1997. Prior to joining the force, Payne served in the United States Marine Corps as a Military Police Officer, according to the township.

"I am proud of the Officers of this agency and stand by them 100 percent. I was honored to be part of the best agency in New Jersey," said Payne.

An internal affairs investigation that is strictly adhering to the New Jersey Attorney General's Internal Affairs Directive into Bridgewater Police's handling of a teen mall fight that raised questions of racial disparity is still ongoing.

On Feb. 14, Payne requested that the SCPO get involved after a video began circulating following a fight between a light-skinned teen and a Black teen at the Bridgewater Commons mall on Feb. 12. The video shows township police officers kneeling on and handcuffing the Black teen while the light-skinned teen is sitting on a couch. Read More: Cops Criticized After Stopping Teen Fight At Bridgewater Mall

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