JACKSON, NJ – The political drama that has gripped Jackson Township for nearly two years reached a stunning conclusion this week when Police Chief Matthew Kunz was forced out of his position, walking away with what sources describe as a seven-figure settlement following a prolonged power struggle inside town hall.
Today, it was reported that the chief’s settlement was $2,000,000, and one councilman is blaming Mayor Kuhn for that large number.
The majority of the settlement, more than $1.4 million, is related to settling claims by Kunz that the township violated state laws governing discrimination, the state civil rights act, and “whistleblower claims,” but did not specify which claims.
A portion of the lawsuit was for back wages, totalling $247,000. The rest was compensation for damages incurred regarding discrimination and violation of his state civil rights. The township also paid $350,000 in attorney’s fees.
Chief Kunz’s retirement on January 31 capped months of escalating tension between Mayor Jennifer Kuhn, Council President Mordechai Burnstein, and the township council, who had sparred over the chief’s leadership and his legal battle with the township.
Residents packed last week’s council meeting demanding answers, pressing officials to explain why the veteran officer was ousted and how much he was paid to leave.
While the original lawsuit was over backpay issues and pay raises during the tenure of former Mayor Michael Reina, the lawsuit documents show that a major issue of contention between Chief Kunz and the township council began when Kuhn and Burnstein pushed to create the position of Director of Law and Public Safety, a measure to give them a civilian manager to oversee and in many instances usurp power from the Chief of Police.
At the time of the creation of the position, Kuhn served as Council President and Burnstein as Council Vice President. That ordinance was passed by the township council and police officer Joseph Candido, a subordinate of the Chief of Police was hired to fill the role, which was later vacated by court order.
In that case, a judge ruled that a subordinate of the chief cannot serve in a position of power over the cheif and the township was forced to relieve Candido, who returned to his position as a police officer after the decision.
Audio recordings released from private meetings between Mayor Kuhn and the chief reveal a strained working relationship.
In one instance, Kuhn can be heard chastising Kunz in front of his subordinates — a moment that underscored the collapse of their professional relationship. The mayor had made little effort to hide her disdain for the chief, at one point publicly questioning his performance and management decisions.
Kuhn asserted her dominance over the police chief in other recorded meetings provided to Shore News Network, including an audio recording the mayor shared with Shore News Network.
Settlement negotiations reportedly hit a snag in December reportedly after Kuhn leaked details of the pending payout to the Asbury Park Press, describing it as a “six-figure number.”
Township insiders told Shore News Network that the actual agreement was much larger than anyone had anticipated—$2,000,000.
Council President Mordechai Burnstein, when asked about the mayor’s public comments during negotiations, offered a blunt response.
“I don’t know why she did it,” Burnstein said. “She just needs to shut the [expletive] up and stop talking.”
He later blamed former Mayor Michael Reina for the lawsuit that led to the settlement, but acknowledged that the mayor’s comments proved to be costly to the township.
According to the Asbury Park Press, Kuhn defended the payout as being “for the welfare and well-being of the police department.”
But questions remain about how the deal was structured and whether the township tried to keep its terms under wraps.
When asked by Elliot Shem-Tov, a resident running against Kuhn for mayor in 2026, Burnstein promised to release the settlement this week and defended Kuhn’s actions.
Burnstein initially said the full settlement agreement would be released publicly on February 1 through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request. However, officials now say the document will not be made available until February 5 — and even then, it will be redacted by the Township Clerk’s office.
For many residents, that delay has only deepened skepticism over how Jackson’s leadership handled the police chief’s departure, fueling fresh calls for transparency as the township faces yet another controversy under Mayor Kuhn’s administration.
Key points:
• Jackson Police Chief Matthew Kunz forced out after months of political infighting
• Mayor Kuhn and Council President Burnstein clashed over settlement exceeding $1 million
• Township delaying public release of redacted settlement document until February 5
