JACKSON, NJ – Accountability and transparency has taken a back seat to confidentiality, secrecy, and deception in Jackson Township when it comes to an alleged seven-figure settlement to oust JacksonPolice Chief Matthew Kunz.
Jackson Township’s leaders are facing mounting pressure to disclose the full details of a costly settlement with Police Chief Matthew Kunz, amid growing criticism from residents and at least one outspoken councilman who says the public has been misled.
The settlement, reportedly valued between $1.0 million and $1.7 million, resolves litigation between Chief Kunz and the township following months of escalating tension with Mayor Jennifer Kuhn and her administration. The dispute, which began as an internal power struggle, has now erupted into a public fight over transparency, accountability, and taxpayer money.
Shore News Network’s source in the town hall says that “six figure” settlement is actuall well into the seven figure range, a claim also confirmed last week by sources claimed by NJ.com.
Chief Kunz, a 30-year veteran of the Jackson Police Department, announced his retirement effective February 1, 2026. In an official township statement released earlier this week, officials confirmed the existence of the settlement but did not reveal its dollar amount, describing the resolution only as “a fair and final settlement addressing compensation issues that predate the current administration.”
The press release made it seem like there was nothing to see. It left out what happened behind the scenes. Months of failed attempts to remove the chief forcibly, writeups, public shaming, threats, and other actions taken by Mayor Jennifer Kuhn against the chief.
The omission has fueled outrage among residents and council members alike, particularly Councilman Christopher Pollak, a former superhero cosplaying vigilante who recently moved to Jackson from New York City, who took to social media and public meetings to denounce the administration’s handling of the issue.
Pollak said, like all other township communications, he was kept out of the loop and just as in the dark as the rest of the township.
“Jackson Township has settled a lawsuit with its own police chief,” Pollak said in a recent video statement. “They talk about transparency while not telling you the dollar amount of this settlement because it’s a very high number. I’m calling on our leadership to release all the details of this suit and let everybody know the actual settlement amount. The people of Jackson will not be lied to anymore.”
Shore News Network joins Pollak in demanding a public release of the entire settlement agreement, unredacted, and also the complaints and claims filed by Mayor Kuhn and the chief against each other.
Pollak, a political newcomer and former New York City “Real Life Superhero” Dark Guardian, known for his outspoken style, has quickly become the loudest critic on the council, accusing Mayor Kuhn and Council President Mordechai Burnstein of concealing financial information from the public. “Everything is going to come out,” he warned during a recent council session. “Let’s see if you have the transparency you promised.”
Township officials, however, maintain that the settlement was a necessary step to close years of unresolved administrative and payroll disputes stretching back to former Mayor Michael Reina’s tenure. In their public statement, they claimed Chief Kunz had been without a formal employment contract or salary increases since 2017 and that the settlement includes back pay and compensation owed for those years of service.
“The Township of Jackson announces that a settlement has been signed resolving litigation involving Police Chief Matthew Kunz, and that Chief Kunz will be retiring on February 1, 2026, following many years of dedicated service to the Township and its residents,” the statement read. “This settlement reflects a clear break from past practices and demonstrates the current administration’s commitment to responsible governance and respect for municipal employees.”
Yet sources within town hall tell a different story. According to multiple municipal employees familiar with the situation, the dispute between Mayor Kuhn and Chief Kunz went far beyond salary disagreements. Insiders describe a workplace feud that began shortly after Kuhn’s election, with some alleging the mayor publicly berated the chief during internal meetings, undermining his authority in front of subordinates.
Those tensions, employees say, contributed to the chief’s decision to pursue legal action against the township.
The settlement reportedly follows a prior confidential agreement between the two parties that was compromised when Mayor Kuhn allegedly discussed the matter with a local newspaper, in violation of the confidentiality clause.
In that interview, Kuhn reportedly referred to the payout as a “six-figure number,” though township sources now say the final total could be closer to $2 million once back pay, unused vacation, damages and legal fees are included.
Few people in town are faulting Chief Kunz.
Council President Burnstein downplayed the controversy at a recent public meeting, describing the delay in finalizing the agreement as a “minor detail.” However, several township insiders claim that “minor detail” referred to the mayor’s alleged breach of confidentiality, which further complicated the settlement process and contributed to its ballooning cost.
Residents who have followed the ongoing feud expressed frustration that the township continues to speak of “transparency and accountability” while refusing to disclose basic financial details. “If we can’t know what the police chief’s payout is, how can we trust anything the administration says about our tax dollars?” one resident asked during the public comment portion of the most recent council meeting.
The controversy has overshadowed what was once considered a routine retirement announcement and now threatens to dominate Jackson’s political landscape heading into the new fiscal year. Local taxpayer advocates have begun circulating petitions calling for the township to release the settlement documents under the state’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA).
Legal experts say the township may be walking a fine line. While confidentiality clauses can restrict disclosure of certain terms, courts in New Jersey have repeatedly ruled that public settlement amounts involving taxpayer funds must be disclosed. In 2022, a state appellate court reaffirmed that “transparency in the expenditure of public money outweighs confidentiality provisions in government settlements.”
If that standard holds, Jackson Township may eventually be forced to release the payout details—whether voluntarily or through legal challenge.
Meanwhile, Chief Kunz has not commented publicly on the settlement or his upcoming retirement. Colleagues within the department describe him as a “steady and respected” leader who preferred to avoid political entanglements but found himself drawn into an unavoidable conflict. “He just wanted to do his job,” one officer said. “But once things went south with the mayor, it was only a matter of time.”
The chief respectfully declined to discuss the matter last week with Shore News Network citing the condidentiallity requirements of the settlement.
As the dust settles, Jackson residents are left demanding answers: How much did the township pay to end this fight, and why has it been so difficult to get a straight answer? For now, those questions remain unanswered—but the pressure on Mayor Kuhn’s administration to provide clarity is growing by the day.