The Township of Jackson announced today that a settlement has been signed resolving litigation involving Police Chief Matthew Kunz, and that Chief Kunz will be retiring on February 1, 2026 following many years of dedicated service to the Township and its residents.

Under the prior administration, Chief Kunz served the Township without an employment contract and without receiving salary increases since 2017, despite his continued leadership of the Police Department.

The settlement includes back pay and compensation owed for his years of service, and represents an effort by the current Mayor and Council to correct past failures and bring closure to long-standing issues that should have been addressed years ago. The litigation resolved through this settlement arose from actions and decisions made under the prior administration. Neither the current Mayor nor any member of the current Township Council was named in the litigation.

Mayor Kuhn emphasized that the settlement reflects a clear break from past practices and demonstrates the current administration’s commitment to responsible governance and respect for municipal employees. Mayor Jennifer Kuhn stated, “The current administration inherited this situation. It became our responsibility to resolve it fairly and decisively.

This settlement corrects prior errors, compensates a long-serving public safety professional, and allows the Township to move forward.” “This governing body will not ignore unresolved problems from the past,” Council President Mordechai Burnstein stated. “We are committed to transparency, fairness, and ensuring that Township employees are treated professionally and in accordance with the law.”

Chief Kunz devoted many years to serving the residents of Jackson Township. Jackson Township has been known and recognized as a very safe town during his tenure as Chief of Police. The Mayor and Council thank Chief Kunz for his dedication and service and extend their best wishes to him in retirement.

Council President Burnstein added ” Chief Kunz was one of the first people in government that I met when I moved to Jackson nearly 12 years ago and I have cherished our friendship ever since. I look forward to continuing to hear from him to help our department and township move forward”.

The Township remains focused on strengthening its Police Department, supporting its employees, and continuing to provide high-quality public safety services. Information regarding interim leadership and the process for appointing a new Police Chief will be released separately in the near future.