Ousted Police Chief Still Has Nearly $17K Worth of Taxpayer-Funded Equipment

Despite having no input on the day-to-day operations of the Princeton Police Department since he agreed to step down last month, Chief David Dudeck is legally entitled to keep nearly $20,000 of Princeton equipment until Oct. 1.

That's because a Separation Agreement and General Release that Dudeck signed on April 13 requires him to return all of Princeton's property on or before his retirement date, which is no later than Oct. 1. The chief has officially been on medical leave since his own officers alleged a pattern of harassment and intimidation against him earlier this year.

As of Tuesday afternoon May 7 - nearly a month after he signed that agreement- Dudeck still had the following items:

• 2008 Dodge Charger with 48,788 miles as of Feb. 21, 2013 ($14,000*)
• Radio equipment in the car ($1,000*)
• Lights on the car ($800*)
• Glock 9mm handgun ($580*)
• 2011 Apple iPad ($400*)

Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert could not say when the taxpayer-funded items would be returned to the town. She referred questions on the matter to Princeton Administrator Bob Bruschi, who did not return either a voicemail or email on the matter. 

"In terms of the return of equipment, it's being handled administratively," Lempert said. "The intention is for those items to be returned soon, especially the items that might be used by someone else in the department."

Lempert said she was not sure why the chief's separation agreement was written the way it was, allowing someone with no official municipal duties the possibility of keeping nearly $20,000 of town-owned property for nearly six months.

Dudeck's Return to Hun, Possible Conflict With Sick Leave?

Dudeck has not publicly said when he will officially retire from the town, but it will likely be before football season begins at The Hun School of Princeton. School officials have said that Dudeck will return as the school's head football coach, a job he has held for more than a decade. 

Because Dudeck is currently on sick leave from Princeton with a doctor's note, he must abide by the police department's sick leave policy. Under that policy, effective Jan. 1, 2013, he must remain confined to his home during his scheduled work hours, except for doctor/hospital visits, picking up a prescription, attending physical therapy, voting, church, an emergency, or by approval of the chief of police/designee. 

If Dudeck were to coach football or engage in other activities during his normal work hours, he would be in violation of policy and subject to disciplinary measures, including termination. 

"We would expect that the policy that is on the books is going to be followed," Lempert said. "I'm not going to be standing outside of his house, if that's what you mean."

Contacted on Wednesday, Hun's Director of Communications and Marketing Maureen Leming confirmed Dudeck's return as football coach. But when asked if Dudeck would be returning in the spring for conditioning training, or the summer/fall for camp and the start of the football season, Leming said she would need to call us back. She did not return the call. 

Dudeck also did not return a call seeking comment. 

The Allegations Against Dudeck, And His Decision to Retire

Chief Dudeck has been out of the office since Feb. 26, the day he had a meeting with the town's Public Safety Committee. He spent nearly seven weeks considering whether to retire or undergo an investigation into his officers' allegations, ultimately deciding to retire. 

The police union subsequently withdrew all of its allegations against him. 

The complaints were primarily filed by former Princeton Borough Police officers, who allegedly felt too intimidated to come forward before the consolidation of Princeton Borough and Princeton Township. Officers were routinely demoted to patrol or had their schedules changed if they crossed Dudeck, said a source, who asked to remain anonymous. 

Among the alleged incidents: 

• Dudeck stopped a newly trained male officer in the hall. He said something to the effect of 'You're probably in really good shape, show me your abs.' The officer declined, but the Chief said 'No show me your abs, take off your shirt.' 
• Dudeck told the investigating officer working on a male on male sex assault at Princeton University, 'We've got the perfect fag working on the case.'
• Dudeck made a penis joke in front of a female officer during a meeting with his senior staff.

After the allegations surfaced, the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office announced they were monitoring the situation, but did not launch a formal investigation. 

Dudeck has enough accrued time off available to stay on the payroll until October, at which point he will have 30 years of service and be eligible for his full pension benefits. He will also earn a retroactive pay raise to Jan. 1, 2013, once the town finalizes its new union contract. 

Dudeck was the former Princeton Borough Police Chief, a position he held since 2009. Last year, he was approved as Chief of the consolidated Princeton Police Department, a position he assumed Jan. 1, 2013. 

*Patch compiled a general estimate of each item's value*