Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick is set to retire tonight, TLS has learned.
The Chief came under fire in December from nearly all of his force.
Multiple sources confirmed the retirement, though it has not yet been officially announced by the department.
According to sources, the Chief was to retire in the Summer, but decided to call it quits much sooner.
TLS has learned that the new Chief will be Mark Joseph Pilecki, a longtime officer and Captain, as well as a longtime member of Howell First Aid
Pilecki has been with the Howell Police Department for 33 years, and has served as a Captain for the last eight years.
“The morale in the department already changed,” an official told TLS. “He’s a very very nice guy,” the official said.
A First Aid member described Pilecki as “a sweet guy, and very workable.”
The new Chief will take the reins at midnight tonight.
The PBA released the following statement:
UPDATE: Chief Andrew A. Kudrick, Jr. released the following message:
Good afternoon to this amazing community,
I am happy to announce effective midnight tonight I am officially retired. I have spent the last 32 years of my life proudly wearing a Howell Police uniform. For nearly the last seven years, I was honored to be the Chief of Police of an agency I have held in such high regard since I was a child. Being the Chief of Police was an absolute honor. It did however come with significant responsibilities, challenges and situations. From deadly force encounters to managing a public health crisis, it wears heavy after time especially on one’s family. Although I had to make many tough decisions as a Chief, sometimes unpopular, this one wasn’t.
Last year I announced to my staff my intention to retire this year. It was a decision I have been heavily weighing the last few months. Today, I did not hesitate to accept an offer that was presented to me. Although my love for this job is the same as the first day, it is time to move on.
I thank all of you for the love and support you have shown to me and this department over the years. I thoroughly enjoyed our interactions throughout the community, especially at our events. I could not be more proud to have been a Howell police officer. It was my childhood dream. I was so fortunate to work alongside so many outstanding officers and personnel. The friends I have made and the memories will last a lifetime.
I have the utmost confidence in Captain Pilecki being in charge of the PD while the transition is made. Although today is my last official day as a police officer, I will be around the PD to assist. As a resident, I certainly will see all of you out in public.
My sincere gratitude to all of you!
Be well and stay safe!
Chief Kudrick”
Andrew Kudrick is a nice man and was a pleasure dealing with him on multiple occasions. Thank you for your remarkable service to our community.
when a former member of First Aid is at the top of the force it gives over an understanding which filters down to every level about the importance of life for each individual whether they are a retired senior citizen or a small and helpless child or even a young and healthy family man who with the right opportunity has so much to give/
As a retired LEO, I can tell you that I left the NYPD as a result of the case of Garcetti v. Ceballos (2006), the Supreme Court held that public employees have no First Amendment protection for statements they make in the course of their professional duties. The case concerned a deputy district attorney, Richard Ceballos, who objected to misstatements made in an affidavit for a search warrant. Ceballos brought his concerns to his supervisors; when they decided to proceed with the case anyway, he spoke to the defense attorneys in the case, and defense counsel subpoenaed him to testify. In response, his supervisors in the district attorney’s office retaliated against him, denying him a promotion and transferring him to a distant location. Ceballos sued, losing in district court but prevailing on appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court. The case then went to the Supreme Court, which reversed the findings of the Ninth Circuit, concluding that public employees are not protected when they speak “pursuant to their official duties.”
I can’t tell you how much abuse from the brass and cases dropped because of this ruling. Everything became an “internal personnel matter.” The Constitutional rights of LEO’s were decimated, even in cases of public safety. I moved over to NYSP MTA where things weren’t any better. I left after six months and came to Lakewood to start my own business which has zero to do with law enforcement. I’m glad about what happened in Howell because even if the PBA and the cops sued, they would have lost with the case being dismissed by virtue of the Garcetti case. Don’t get me wrong, I love cops, I loved being a cop but the brass offer no protection and know they can get away with it. You can’t protest, just resign or retire.