Councilwoman Wittner’s recent post presents a false narrative about police staffing in Dover and wrongly accuses me and the Mayor of making decisions we simply did not make. Since she chose to spread misinformation in a public forum, I need to set the record straight.
At no time did I direct the Police Department to reduce staffing from four officers to three. In fact, I recently learned that the four-officer minimum currently in place was established by Chief Delaney in 2022, on his own initiative. For some time, the town was led to believe—based on information provided by members of the department—that this minimum staffing level was the result of a formal contract negotiation. It was only during a recent discussion that Chief Delaney admitted it was his own directive, one he could change at any time if he alone chooses to do so.
For years, Dover operated safely with three officers per shift. I have no personal preference between three or four, as long as public safety is protected and the department stays within its budget. I have never attempted to interfere with staffing decisions, nor would I. The Chief has exclusive authority over daily operations under what is often referred to as the “Chief’s Bill of Rights.” I fully support and respect that.
However, I also have a responsibility to ensure the Town operates within its legal budget. The Police Department’s budget is already more than double the size of any other department in Dover, and overtime costs have become a growing concern. Every department head, including the Chief, is expected to manage within their allocated budget—just like every other municipal department across New Jersey. That’s not micromanagement; that’s basic fiscal responsibility.
It is disappointing that Councilwoman Wittner made no effort to reach out to me before making false and inflammatory public statements. A single phone call could have avoided this. Instead, she chose to misrepresent the facts and undermine my efforts to serve the Town with professionalism and integrity.
I ask that she correct the record and refrain from using my name in political posts that contain false information.
I am hopeful that, moving forward, we can engage in respectful and fact-based dialogue focused on the needs of Dover’s residents and the responsible governance they deserve.
I was officially appointed as the new Business Administrator on Tuesday night, and by Thursday—just two days later—a false narrative began circulating, first from the PBA and now echoed by a member of the Town Council. I generally avoid engaging with negativity, but this must stop if we’re going to work together for the good of Dover.
I operate with an open-door policy and welcome constructive dialogue. However, I will not allow political agendas to misuse my name. Our focus should be on helping and better serving our community—not fueling division.
Spending between $500,000 and $700,000 in overtime for a single department—where base salaries already exceed six figures—is simply unsustainable. We cannot justify straining every other department to support this level of spending.
It’s time to stop the misinformation and start working collaboratively. The numbers speak for themselves.
