Bergen Republicans endorse suspended N.J. police chief accused of corruption
Updated Apr 03, 2021;
A Bergen County police chief currently suspended over corruption and misconduct charges has been endorsed by the county GOP as their nominee to vie for the County Sheriff’s race.
The Bergen County Republican Organization endorsed Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler as the Republican candidate for the Bergen County Sheriff’s Race, despite allegations that he ordered officers under his command to provide escorts while on-duty for the funeral home he owns.
At the organization’s convention Tuesday night, Kugler received nearly three times as many votes as challenger Harry Shortway, the Midland Park mayor, reported NorthJersey.com. The vote means Kugler will get the “party line,” the first position on the ballot as an endorsed candidate.
A criminal complaint alleges a Bergen County chief ordered officers to perform escorts for his private funeral home business using police vehicles during their.
UpdatedMon, Mar 8, 2021 at 4:40 pm ET
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SADDLE BROOK, NJ The New Jersey Attorney General announced charges against Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler, who ordered on-duty officers to perform police escorts for his private business, the AG s Office said.
Kugler is charged with conspiracy, official misconduct and corruption of public resources for ordering those officers to use police department vehicles to perform police escorts for funerals at Kugler Funeral Home, which he owns, the AG s Office said.
The Bergen County Prosecutor s Office has taken over day-to-day operations at the department, and Kugler has been suspended. Chief of Detectives Robert Anzilotti will be in command of the department under the authority of Prosecutor Mark Musella, the Prosecutor s Office announced.
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State authorities on Monday charged Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler with ordering on-duty police officers to conduct escorts for his funeral business using department vehicles.
The Bergen County Prosecutor s Office has temporarily assumed control over the day-to-day operation of the Saddle Brook Police Department as a result, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced.
Kugler, 59, of Saddle Brook, was issued a summons charging him with conspiracy, official misconduct and corruption of public resources, Grewal said. A hearing was yet to be scheduled.
He also was suspended with pay pending the outcome of the case.
Kugler couldn t immediately be reached for comment.