Police Merger a 'Dead Issue' in Kinnelon, Butler

The Kinnelon Police Department will not be merging with Butler or any other municipality’s police department, authorities said.

Chief John Schwartz said that there have been “no talks” with Butler regarding the possible move.

“This was a conversation that was had when the two chiefs announced their retirements in a very short period of time,” said Chief John Schwartz. “At this point, it’s a dead issue.”

Schwartz took over as chief in November. Butler Chief Edward Card will retire at the end of the year. Card did not return a message for comment.

Kinnelon Councilman Daniel O’Dougherty had said at a recent council meeting that merging the two departments is a “no-brainer.”

The Kinnelon Council’s Safety Committee discussed the move. Schwartz said he was never a part of a conversation that was had on the matter.

Councilman Gary Moleta, chairman of the Safety Committee, did not respond to a request for comment.

The two boroughs’ police departments have the same number of officers: 16. Kinnelon’s officers patrol a much larger area, about 20 miles, than Butler’s do, which is about two.

Schwartz said that while it would be “silly not to look at” merging the departments, it is something that requires a great deal of studying and time to complete properly.

“It’s really nothing that could have been accomplished that quickly,” Schwartz said.