Jackson mayor suspends code enforcement officer after online threat against councilwoman

Jackson, NJ – Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina has suspended Code Enforcement Officer William “Bill” Campbell after he posted a threatening message directed at Jackson Council President Jennifer Kuhn on social media.

The suspension stems from a comment Campbell made on Facebook under the username “Billy Cee,” in response to a post criticizing Kuhn and Councilman Mordy Burnstein.

In his post, Campbell wrote, “Totally agree she needs to go and I will not stop until she is gone. Keep coming at us ms kuhn been there done that. We are not idiots in code enforcement as you may think. Bottom line f*** with retired COPS AND YOU WILL GET BURNED.” The inflammatory language, particularly the phrase “YOU WILL GET BURNED,” was widely interpreted as a direct threat against Kuhn, prompting swift action from township leadership.

Campbell is a retired police officer, one of many now serving as code enforcement officers in Jackson. Kuhn has spearheaded a government efficiency investigation into the department, which has doubled in size in recent years. At Tuesday night’s council meeting, Kuhn asserted that code enforcement officials are not enforcing township ordinances. Previously, Kuhn questioned the department’s workload.

Mayor Reina, who has served as Jackson’s mayor since 2008, confirmed Campbell’s suspension pending a full investigation into the matter.

Township officials have not disclosed the length of the suspension or whether additional disciplinary measures are under consideration, citing the ongoing investigation.

Council President Kuhn, who has been a prominent figure in Jackson politics since her election in 2022, expressed alarm over the incident.

“This kind of rhetoric is not only unprofessional but deeply concerning for the safety of those serving our community,” Kuhn said. “I trust the mayor and administration will handle this appropriately.”

Kuhn said the beef with Campbell stems from her allegedly spotting him at home during work hours.

Campbell initially claimed he was home washing his work vehicle.

Later, after reporting the matter to administration, another employee in the department allegedly changed Campbell’s timecard to report that he was on vacation, after the fact.

Councilman Mordy Burnstein, also named in the original social media post that sparked Campbell’s response, echoed Kuhn’s concerns and called for immediate action.

“I am deeply alarmed at the threats made against my colleague,” Burnstein said. “I urge Mayor Reina to ensure the safety of Jackson’s elected officials and to follow through on the investigation into Code Enforcement.”

Campbell, a retired police officer now working in Jackson’s Code Enforcement Department, has not publicly responded to the suspension or the backlash over his post.

The suspension comes at a time when Jackson’s government is already under the microscope. It recently settled a Department of Justice lawsuit claiming bias within the code enforcement department, among other allegations.

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