Township government

Police: contracts, equipment and policy questions

In 2026 the Council approved police vehicles, equipment and a superior officers' contract through 2030, and extended the Chief's contract through 2027. Residents raised emergency-response cost recovery and immigration enforcement; the Township ended its license-plate reader vendor relationship.

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

Contracts approved; no Council action on cost recovery Last moved

What happens next

New emergency radios are expected in use from Jan. 1, 2027. No Council action on the cost-recovery provisions of Chapter 40 appears in the minutes through Oct. 1, 2026. Residents can raise police matters in public comment at any Council meeting.

The Bridgewater Police Department is led by Chief John Mitzak, whose contract the Council extended through December 31, 2027 (September 17, 5-0). Council President Geiger reported in March that the department had earned reaccreditation for the fourth time.

Contracts and equipment. The Council approved a three-year lease-purchase of eight police vehicles, up to $647,401.53 (May 7, 4-0); uniforms and body armor from Gall’s, up to $40,000 (June 25); a memorandum of agreement with the Superior Officers’ Association for 2026 through 2030 (June 25); and firearms equipment from Witmer Public Safety Group, up to $96,724.46 (August 6, 4-0). Police are among the agencies covered by the $4,205,000 emergency radio bond; see fire and emergency services.

Questions residents raised. On March 5 a speaker said her son had been billed about $15,025 by the Office of Emergency Management after a 2025 crash, and former Councilman Filipe Pedroso asked the Council to revoke the enforcement provisions of Section 40-6 of the Township Code. Chief Mitzak said the ordinance recovers emergency response costs from a driver found responsible for a crash and “does not involve jail time”; no Council action on it appears in the minutes. The same night a resident raised immigration enforcement; the Administrator said police have written guidelines consistent with the New Jersey Attorney General’s direction.

License-plate readers. Councilman Bucko reported on August 20 that Bridgewater does not use Flock cameras because of concerns with the vendor’s business practices and that the Township has ended its relationship with the vendor.

What residents can do. Raise police and safety matters in public comment at Council meetings, or contact the department’s Traffic Safety Unit. Corrections to this page can be emailed to info@localwhy.org.

Police contracts and policy questions, explained

Timeline

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

  1. Active Speakers object to a $15,025 emergency-response bill under Chapter 40A speaker said her son was billed about $15,025 by the Office of Emergency Management after a 2025 crash, and former Councilman Filipe Pedroso asked the Council to revoke the enforcement provisions of Section 40-6. Chief Mitzak said the ordinance recovers response costs from at-fault drivers and "does not involve jail time."
  2. Resolved Immigration enforcement raised; police guidelines describedA resident raised concerns about immigration enforcement practices. The Administrator said the Police Department has "clear written guidelines, consistent with direction from the New Jersey Attorney General," for situations involving federal immigration enforcement.
  3. Resolved Eight police vehicles approved, up to $647,401.53The Council approved a three-year lease-purchase of eight vehicles through Nielsen Fleet, under a cooperative pricing contract, up to $647,401.53 (Res. #26-05-07-128, 4-0, Councilwoman Isla absent).
  4. Resolved $4,205,000 emergency radio bond introduced, 5-0The Council introduced a bond ordinance appropriating $4,205,000 for emergency radio communications systems, with $3,994,750 in bonds or notes, 5-0 (Res. #26-06-25-142). Councilman Ring said the upgrade is a Somerset County mandate for municipalities on the County's dispatch system.
  5. Resolved Superior officers' contract through 2030 ratified, 5-0By consent, the Council ratified the memorandum of agreement for a successor contract with the Bridgewater Township Superior Officer's Association, January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2030, and approved uniforms and body armor from Gall's, LLC, up to $40,000, 5-0.
  6. Resolved Radio bond Ordinance #26-10 adopted, 5-0After a public hearing, the Council adopted Ordinance #26-10, appropriating $4,205,000 for emergency radio systems for police, emergency management, fire districts, EMS and Public Works and authorizing $3,994,750 in bonds or notes, 5-0.
  7. Resolved Township has ended its license-plate reader vendor relationshipCouncilman Bucko reported that Bridgewater does not use Flock license-plate reader cameras "due to concerns with the vendor's business practices," and that the Township has ended its relationship with the vendor.
  8. Resolved Motorola awarded up to $2.95 million for emergency radios, 5-0The Council awarded Motorola Solutions, Inc. up to $2,950,000 for emergency radio equipment under state cooperative pricing contract 25-TELE-132995 (Res. #26-09-17-208, 5-0). The Administrator said another resolution may follow and the radios are expected in use from January 1.
  9. Resolved Police Chief's contract extended through 2027By consent, the Council extended Police Chief John Mitzak's contract for one year, January 1 to December 31, 2027, 5-0.

Explainers

Documents

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

Meetings

  • Township Council — September 17, 2026

    The Council awarded the emergency radio equipment contract to Motorola Solutions, up to $2,950,000, and introduced an ordinance adding streets to the snow emergency no-parking list, all 5-0. It also approved a backhoe purchase, The Clubhouse liquor license transfer, the KM Construction final change order and a one-year extension of the police chief's contract. Ring said his ordinance ending elected officials' health benefits was drafted for October 1.

  • Township Council — September 3, 2026

    After an 11-speaker hearing, the three members present (Bucko, Kirsh and Geiger; Isla and Ring absent) adopted data center ordinance #26-15, 3-0. Planner Sarmad said it does not change where data centers are permitted but sets standards for use-variance applications. The Council also approved a $133,000 housing trust fund grant for a group home at 305 Raymond Court. Vosseller Avenue residents asked for permanent speed measures.

  • Township Council — August 20, 2026

    With Isla absent, the Council adopted the omnibus Master Plan ordinance #26-14 and introduced a data center and hyperscale data center ordinance, each 4-0. Planner Sarmad said a concept plan filed with the 1200 Route 22 subdivision application was included in error and has no legal effect. The sewer utility director presented pump station and inflow work; the Van Veghten Drive paving contract was cut to its $784,430.75 base bid.

  • Township Council — August 6, 2026

    With Isla absent, the Council adopted the fire hydrant snow-clearing ordinance #26-13, 4-0, and introduced the omnibus Master Plan ordinance, 4-0, with its data center language removed for later review. A listed repeal of the 1200 Route 22 redevelopment plan was taken off the agenda. Twelve residents spoke, most on data centers. The police chief reported a Bogart Drive speed study, and Visions and Pathways presented Bridge House.

  • Township Council — June 25, 2026

    The Council introduced three bond ordinances for July 9 hearings: $4,205,000 for the county-mandated emergency radio system (5-0), $1,900,000 for road improvements (5-0) and $2,500,000 for drainage (4-1, Kirsh voting no). It adopted the Starbucks traffic ordinance #26-09, renewed 2026–2027 liquor licenses and ratified the Superior Officers' Association contract for 2026–2030.

  • Township Council — May 18, 2026

    The Council adopted #26-07 (the Whitney Court affordable housing sale) and #26-08 (one-time six-month temporary parking on Block 222 Lot 3.01), each 4-0 with Isla absent, and approved a developer's agreement for the M&M at Route 206 manufacturing facility. A resident asked the Council to consider an ordinance prohibiting data centers; others raised taxes, lighting and drainage.

  • Township Council — May 7, 2026

    After a public hearing and an amendment, the Council adopted the 2026 municipal budget, 4-0, with Isla absent. It introduced ordinances on the Whitney Court affordable housing sale (#26-07) and temporary dealership parking on Block 222 Lot 3.01 (#26-08), and approved an $89,430 reassessment inspection contract and a lease-purchase of eight vehicles of up to $647,401.53.

  • Township Council — March 19, 2026

    The Council approved a NJ Water Bank financing note of up to $4,100,000 for the Middlebrook pump station and an amended school resource officer agreement, 5-0, and split 3-1-1 on Municipal Alliance appointments. The multifamily snow-clearing ordinance was tabled again for revisions. Isla raised the accuracy of the Planning Board agenda for the Greymark subdivision; the Finance Committee reported on the budget.

  • Township Council — March 5, 2026

    The Council adopted the four Fourth Round affordable housing ordinances, #26-01 to #26-04, each 5-0, ahead of the March 15 deadline, and the housing trust fund spending plan and manuals. It added $350,000 for snow removal (season total up to $560,000) and tabled a multifamily snow-clearing ordinance. Residents asked about immigration enforcement and an emergency-response cost bill.

  • Township Council — February 19, 2026

    The Council introduced four Fourth Round affordable housing ordinances, 5-0, for a March 5 hearing, and approved 5-0 the professional appointments that had failed on February 5. It also named an Acting CFO and approved the Middlebrook pump station engineering contract, the first step toward a grant-funded Garretson Road sidewalk and the County recycling agreement.

  • Township Council — December 17, 2025

    In the outgoing Council's last meeting, with Councilman Pedroso absent, the Council adopted Ordinance 25-24, replacing the AH-3 zone at Cornell Boulevard, 4-0, after 17 people spoke at the hearing, and the $4.1 million Middle Brook sewer bond (#25-13), 4-0. It also adopted the BRCC and C-1 zone changes, certified the 2024 audit, approved 2026 employee health insurance, the 2024–2027 police contract and Sarah Housman as Director of Finance, and rejected a special tax counsel agreement, 2-2.

  • Township Council — December 3, 2025

    Meeting a day early by township notice, with Councilman Ring absent, the Council introduced Ordinance 25-24, replacing the AH-3 zone at Cornell Boulevard, 3-1 (Pedroso nay), after a Somerville resident and Council-elect Joan Geiger asked that it wait for the new Council. It adopted the massage, health-fee and towing ordinances (#25-21 and #25-22, 3-1; #25-23, 4-0), held the hearing on the $4.1 million Middle Brook sewer bond and carried its vote to December 17, and introduced the BRCC and C-1 zone ordinances.

  • Township Council — November 6, 2025

    With Councilman Pedroso absent, the Council introduced, 4-0, a $4,100,000 bond ordinance for Phase 2 of the Middle Brook sewer pumping station and ordinances on massage businesses, the towing roster and health fees. It renewed Stavola's 2026 quarry license, awarded a snow-removal contract of up to $60,000 to RJM Landscape and Design, and approved a $642,997.23 paving contract for Plymouth Road, Ryan Way and Jeffrey Lane. The Planner reported medical-office interest at the Somerset Corporate Center.

Sources for this overview

  1. Township Council minutes, March 5, 2026 (cost recovery; immigration guidance)
  2. Township Council minutes, May 7, 2026 (police vehicles)
  3. Township Council minutes, June 25, 2026 (superior officers' agreement)
  4. Township Council minutes, August 20, 2026 (license-plate readers)
  5. Township Council minutes, September 17, 2026 (Chief's contract)
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