Bridgewater Extends Police Chief Contract, Approves 5 Percent Raise

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Township Council has approved a contract extension for Police Chief John Mizak for one additional year with an increase that was not favored by all.

The Council voted 3 to 1 to extend Mitzak's contract from Jan. 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2026. Mitzak has served as Police Chief since 2022 and has served the department for more than 25 years.

"Chief Mitzak has done a phenomenal job as Chief. I couldn't have asked for a better Chief to be serving with right now. Leadership has been phenomenal," said Mayor Matthew Moench at the Aug. 21 Council meeting. "He's such a great example to the department, to me, making sure that our public is protected and the department is well-led is the most critical thing we can do. And there is no one we would want to be running the department right now."

The new contract grants Mitzak a 2.5 percent increase on Jan. 1, 2026, making his new salary $214,032.01, according to Scott Stephens, with the Township's Office of Constituent Relations.

Councilmembers Michael Kirsh, Allen Kurdyla, and Timothy Ring voted in favor of the contract, with Council President Howard Norgalis voting against it.

Norgalis said that the contract wasn't even included in the agenda for the Aug. 21 meeting, but was added at the beginning of the meeting at the request of Mitzak.

"He has asked that his contract be discussed in a public meeting," said Norgalis.

Norgalis also noted that the contract, which is available to view at the Township Clerk's Office, includes an additional 2.5 percent increase on July 1, 2026 for Mitzak.

"One of the things embedded in the contract is a 2.5 percent raise, which I will support. But an additional supplemental 2.5 percent in July, which at the end of the year is a 5 percent raise," said Norgalis, who added that other Township employees might now ask for 5 percent as well.

Kirsh said that he agreed with the sentiments that "John Mitzak has and will continue to be an outstanding Chief at the right time and the right place. And that’s why I believe that continuing this one additional year into 2026 is a win-win for everybody."

"It does bear noting that this was only discussed with the council two weeks ago. In the last two weeks, we have been engaged, we have asked some questions, we have gotten some answers, and I am prepared to vote," said Kirsh. "But in an ideal world, we would have been having this conversation a little bit earlier. By the time this came to the Council, we expedited it considerably."

Kurdyla was in favor of Mitzak's new contract.

"When you look at the benefit of what we are going to receive for the leadership of the department, I think this is a very, very small price to pay," said Kurdyla. "And I would like to publicly thank Chief Mitzak for offering to be here another year to lead the department, because the amount of change that is coming, I believe, is not normal. I firmly support this resolution."

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