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Hillsdale NJ, a disciplinary hearing involving Hillsdale Police Chief Sean Smith was canceled last week after Smith and the borough of Hillsdale reached a settlement agreement, according to a statement from Hillsdale Mayor Michael Sheinfield. The chief also plans to retire on April 1, 2025.
Mystery Surrounding the Disciplinary Charges
While the details of the disciplinary matter remain undisclosed, the situation has been under scrutiny since January 14, when the Hillsdale Mayor and Council approved a resolution to appoint a hearing officer for a “certain disciplinary matter” related to the police chief.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office reportedly conducted an investigation, but no information regarding the reason for Smith’s administrative leave—which began in August 2024—has been released.
During the January 14 council meeting, Councilman John Ruocco stated that, to the best of his knowledge, none of the charges were criminal in nature.
Settlement Reached, Hearing Canceled
On March 20, the disciplinary hearing was officially canceled after the borough and Smith reached a settlement. The legal counsel for the borough is now preparing a formal resolution, which will be presented at the April 15 council meeting.
However, the mayor’s statement clarified that the resolution will not include specific details regarding the incident(s) that led to the disciplinary matter.
Chief Smith to Retire on April 1
As part of the agreement, Chief Sean Smith will retire from the Hillsdale Police Department on April 1, 2025. In his absence, Lt. Travis Woods has been serving as the officer in charge of the Hillsdale Police Department since March 27.
Public Interest vs. Privacy Rights
Mayor Sheinfield acknowledged that the public has expressed significant interest in learning more about the situation but emphasized that this remains a borough personnel matter.
“All employees have a right to and an expectation of privacy in such instances,” the mayor’s statement read. “This right extends to both public and private sector employees. We will not be violating anyone’s right to privacy, and no one from the borough will be commenting on the matter.”
Stay Updated
For those interested, Hillsdale Council meetings are available for public viewing on YouTube: Hillsdale NJ Council Streams.
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