Township government

The Bernards Township Police Department

The township's police department has 40 full-time officers in the 2026 budget. In 2026 the Committee hired eight patrol officers, approved promotions, placed Class III officers in the schools and accepted an $835,000 federal grant for new police radios.

Checked against the primary record on . Every figure on this page is sourced at the foot of the article.

$835,000 federal radio grant accepted Oct. 13, 2026 Last moved

What happens next

Police hires, purchases and contracts come to regular Township Committee meetings, where residents may speak in public comment. The next meeting is November 10, 2026.

The Bernards Township Police Department is led by Chief Timothy King and Deputy Chief Mike Sweeney. The 2026 User Friendly Budget lists 40 full-time police officers, with base pay of $4,814,235.93 and a total personnel cost of $7,715,869.44 including overtime, pension, health benefits and payroll taxes. Police salaries and wages in the 2026 budget are $5,131,196.13, up 1.93%.

Staffing in 2026. The Committee appointed eight patrol officers at $55,992 a year under the PBA Local 357 contract, from January to August 2026. On May 12 it approved promotions to lieutenant, sergeant and corporal; one of that night’s resolutions names one officer in its title and another in its resolving clause, and the explainer quotes both. A sergeant with 29 years of service and a lieutenant with more than 24 years retired.

Radios. On July 14 the Committee approved an application for an $835,000 federal Byrne Discretionary Community Project grant for a “Police Communications Upgrade”; on October 13 it accepted the award from the U.S. Office of Justice Programs and added it to the 2026 budget (Res. #2026-0420). Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s office said the money buys 89 tri-band radios to replace radios that operate on one frequency.

Schools and crossings. Seven Class III special officers were appointed for the 2026-27 school year under agreements with the Bernards Township Board of Education and Saint James School. School crossing guards are provided under contract, up to $201,000 for September 2026 through June 2027.

What residents can do. Speak in public comment at any Township Committee meeting; read the resolutions in the Committee’s minutes. Allen Road safety is covered in its own issue. Corrections to this page can be emailed to info@localwhy.org.

The police department in 2026, explained

Timeline

Each dated event on this issue, oldest first, linked to the full sourced entry.

  1. Resolved Police department reaccreditation recognizedThe Committee recognized the police department's reaccreditation by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (Res. #2026-0155), presenting the resolution to Chief Tim King and Lieutenant Alex McKnight.
  2. Resolved Capital ordinance #2597 adopted: $6,250,380 in cash for roads, parks, police, fire and EMSWith no public speakers, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2597 5-0, appropriating $6,250,380 from the Capital Improvement Fund. With #2594 it funds the full $7,699,380 2026 capital budget without borrowing.
  3. Resolved Police promotions approved; one resolution names two officersOn its consent agenda (5-0) the Committee promoted Mark Neri to lieutenant, Christopher Albanese to sergeant and three officers to corporal. Resolution #2026-0270 names Anthony Severino in its title and WHEREAS clauses and Christopher Albanese in its resolving clause.
  4. Resolved Application for $835,000 federal police radio grant approvedThe Committee approved an application to the federal FY 2026 Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants program for the police department's $835,000 "Communications Upgrade project," requesting the full amount (Res. #2026-0328, consent agenda, 5-0).
  5. Resolved Seven Class III school officers appointed; $201,000 crossing-guard contractFor 2026-27 the Committee appointed seven Special Law Enforcement Officers III for the schools at $43.71 an hour, approved agreements with the Board of Education and Saint James School, and awarded crossing-guard services up to $201,000, all 5-0 on the consent agenda.
  6. Resolved $835,000 federal police radio grant accepted, 5-0The Committee accepted an $835,000 award from the U.S. Office of Justice Programs for the 2026 Police Communications Upgrade Project and added it to the 2026 budget (Res. #2026-0420, consent agenda, 5-0).

Explainers

  • The Bernards Township Police Department in 2026, Explained

    The department's size and 2026 budget; reaccreditation; the eight patrol officers hired and the May promotions, including a resolution that names two different officers; the $835,000 federal radio grant; school officers and crossing guards; vehicles and cameras; the lobby, the online reporting portal and the shared court; and what residents can do.

Documents

The township's own records on this issue. Each links to the official copy.

Meetings

  • Township Committee — October 27, 2026

    A regular meeting. The agenda lists recognitions of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and First Responders Appreciation Month, the reappointment of the shared municipal court judge, a final change order reducing the 2025 Reivax road contract by $73,236.70, and a snow removal contract. The township had not posted minutes of this meeting as of Nov. 1, 2026.

  • Township Committee — October 13, 2026

    The Committee adopted a filming permit ordinance (#2602), school-hours no-stopping rules on Peachtree and Woodstone Roads (#2606) and no-parking zones on Church Street near the Liberty Corner Firehouse (#2607), and accepted the $835,000.00 federal grant for the police communications upgrade, all 5-0. One person spoke.

  • Township Committee — August 25, 2026

    With McNally absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2603, a property maintenance ordinance for non-residential properties, 4-0 after a hearing at which five speakers supported it and one did not. It rejected all seven bids for the 2026 road program as over budget, ordered Motorola radios for the fire companies and emergency management (not to exceed $536,023.28) and met in closed session on Toll/Tavistock v. BTSA. Ten people spoke in all.

  • Township Committee — August 11, 2026

    The Committee introduced Ordinance #2603, a property maintenance ordinance for non-residential properties, appointed seven Class III special officers for school security under agreements with the Board of Education and Saint James School, and awarded crossing guard services for 2026-2027 (not to exceed $201,000.00), all 5-0. Five people spoke.

  • Township Committee — July 28, 2026

    The Committee continued the community-based deer management program for 2026-2027, approved change orders on the Renda Roads repair contract (+$79,952.87) and the 2025 Reivax road program (+$31,701.57), and bought Public Works trucks, hooklift equipment and a van totaling about $851,000, all 5-0. Five people spoke, all on the former Lord Stirling School property.

  • Township Committee — July 14, 2026

    The Committee adopted salary Ordinance #2601, authorized an online tax sale on or about October 6, extended the third-quarter tax grace period because the county had not released the tax rate, and applied for an $835,000.00 federal grant for police communications and $1,447,960.00 in state aid for three roads, all 5-0. Three people spoke, all on the former Lord Stirling School property.

  • Township Committee — June 23, 2026

    With McNally absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2599, as amended with the Planning Board's recommendations, prohibiting data centers in all zones, and #2598, a new construction fee schedule, both 4-0. It certified the 2025 audit, extended Ridge Oak's tax abatement 40 years, awarded Pleasant Valley Park court improvements and introduced salary Ordinance #2601. Thirteen entries naming 15 people commented on the former Lord Stirling School property.

  • Township Committee — May 26, 2026

    The Committee introduced Ordinance #2599, amending the uses permitted in the E-1 to E-5 office zones, and referred it to the Planning Board, with a hearing set for June 23; it became the township's data center ban. It tabled the construction fee ordinance (#2598) to fix a typographical error, accepted a $72,394.53 Clean Communities grant and let the Farmstead's Friends apply for a county preservation grant, all 5-0. Two people spoke.

  • Township Committee — May 12, 2026

    The Committee adopted capital Ordinance #2597, $6,250,380.00 from the Capital Improvement Fund for roads, drainage, fire and EMS equipment, radios, parks and police equipment, and easement Ordinance #2596. It urged state leaders to curb public employee health premium increases after a 36.25% State Health Benefits Plan rise, and made seven police appointments and promotions, all 5-0. Two people spoke.

  • Township Committee — April 28, 2026

    After a public hearing with one speaker, the Committee adopted the 2026 municipal and golf utility budgets 5-0: $49,773,967.75 in appropriations and a municipal tax rate of $0.246. It authorized estimated third-quarter tax bills, adopted Ordinance #2595, and introduced capital Ordinance #2597 ($6,250,380.00) and easement Ordinance #2596. Four people spoke in all.

  • Township Committee — April 14, 2026

    After a closed session on potential litigation over the Reivax road improvements contract, the Committee awarded Renda Roads up to $1,025,000.00 for road repairs, hired Boswell for MS4 stormwater mapping ($94,000.00), approved a Speed Sentry radar display loan from RideWise and two police vehicles, and introduced Ordinance #2595, all 4-0 with Asay absent. Two people spoke.

  • Township Committee — March 24, 2026

    The Committee introduced the 2026 municipal budget ($49,773,967.75 in appropriations, $24,315,594.30 to be raised by taxes plus a $3,261,768.00 library levy) and the golf utility budget, 4-0 with McNally absent, and set the hearing for April 28. It also asked for $1,840,125.00 in federal funds for the Pleasant Valley Park culvert and paths, awarded a cricket pitch and accepted the 2025 LOSAP volunteer lists. Two people spoke.

  • Township Committee — March 10, 2026

    With Tompkins absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2593, the Fourth Round affordable housing compliance rules, and capital Ordinance #2594 ($1,449,000.00), and awarded synthetic turf replacement at Mountain Park ($960,826.00), a pavement condition assessment and a $250,000.00 federal funding request for stormwater planning, all 4-0. One person spoke.

  • Township Committee — February 10, 2026

    The Committee recognized the Police Department's reaccreditation, adopted an Affirmative Marketing Plan for affordable housing required by the court's conditional compliance order, and introduced Ordinance #2593, which incorporates the state's Fourth Round housing rules into the land development ordinance, all 5-0. One person spoke, about snow on sidewalks.

  • Township Committee — December 23, 2025

    A 23-minute afternoon meeting, with two members joining by phone. The Committee adopted Ordinance #2590, a riparian conservation easement on Briar Lane, cancelled $4,000,000.00 of unspent 2025 appropriations to fund balance, set the 2026 parks and recreation fees and renewed the shared municipal court for 2026-2028, all 5-0. One person spoke.

  • Township Committee — December 9, 2025

    With Mayor Fields absent, the Committee bought Motorola radios for both fire companies (not to exceed $500,058.05) and police video and body cameras ($73,372.00), set the 2026 Pleasant Valley Pool fees, ratified a 2025-2029 Teamsters Local 469 contract, reappointed the Tax Collector with tenure and introduced Ordinance #2590, all 4-0. Five people spoke, two on Allen Road.

Sources for this overview

  1. Bernards Township, 2026 User Friendly Budget (state form)
  2. Bernards Township, 2026 Budget Introduction presentation (CFO, March 24, 2026)
  3. Township Committee minutes, May 12, 2026 (promotions)
  4. Township Committee minutes, July 14, 2026 (grant application)
  5. Township Committee minutes, August 11, 2026 (school officers; crossing guards)
  6. Township Committee minutes, October 13, 2026 (grant accepted)
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