Police Chief Search: Bridgewater To Hire Consultant

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater is looking to spend $10,000 to hire a professional consultant to help in the search for a new police chief.

The township council will vote on a resolution to hire The Valori Group, LLC, 36 Gathering Hill Court, Morris Plains, during Thursday night's meeting.

If approved, Valori Group LLC, will be retained as a "professional consultant to facilitate the evaluation process for the selection of the Chief of Police and to serve on the assessment panel therefore as agreed upon within the annexed contract for services," according to the resolution.

Part of that process is yielding applicants from within the department and then presenting them to the Mayor.

A new police chief is expected to be appointed within the next 30 to 45 days, said Bridgewater Spokesman Wells Winegar.

Currently, John Mitzak is serving as Acting Chief of the department since Paul Payne retired at the end of August.

The township currently has 77 officers in the department with the recent hire of five new officers on Sept. 2.

Those five officers are training at the police academy and will take about 6 months before they are out on the road, said Winegar.

The department can have up to 79 officers or 81 if there are upcoming retirements, said Winegar.

The Bridgewater Township Council meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Council chambers in the Bridgewater Municipal Building at 100 Commons Way.

To view the agenda click here.

For those who prefer to observe the meeting from home, a live broadcast will be available on RingCentral Meetings. In order to view the Sept. 8 Council Meeting in real-time online or by phone, follow these instructions:

• Event: Bridgewater Township Council Meeting
• Date/Time: 7:30PM on Thursday, September 8th 2022
• Location: 100 Commons Way, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 & remote online viewing
• Please click the link below to join the Council Meeting:
• https://webinar.ringcentral.com/j/1452650232
• *Download may be required
• When prompted, enter Meeting ID: 145 265 0232
• Or Telephone: US: +1(470) 869 2200
• Webinar ID: 145 265 0232

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