Morristown, NJ – The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office says a months-long investigation found no evidence of criminal activity by members of the Dover Police Department following claims of illegal wiretapping inside the town’s municipal complex.
The inquiry, handled by the office’s Professional Standards Unit, stemmed from allegations that officers had been secretly intercepting calls made through the town’s phone system.
Officials said the department’s Internal Affairs lieutenant was the only person with administrative access to the call recording system and that his actions were lawful and consistent with department policy.
No evidence of illegal recordings found
The prosecutor’s office said the investigation was launched after high-ranking Dover officials alleged that police were improperly monitoring calls across all municipal extensions. Investigators found no proof of any surreptitious or unauthorized recording by police personnel.
According to the findings, the VoIP phone system used by the Town of Dover automatically recorded incoming and outgoing calls, a feature included in the contract the town signed with a telecommunications provider in November 2023. Installation occurred early this year under the current mayoral administration.
Incoming callers to municipal offices, including the police department, heard an automated message stating calls might be recorded. Police employees were also notified that their communications were subject to recording.
VoIP system design caused mixed recordings
The investigation revealed that the VoIP system purchased by the town lacked the ability to separate civilian extensions from police lines. As a result, both law enforcement and civilian recordings were stored together.
Because of that configuration, a sworn officer was required to oversee access to all stored recordings to maintain confidentiality for law enforcement communications. The Internal Affairs lieutenant was the only person authorized to retrieve recordings and did so approximately a dozen times since installation, each for official purposes such as investigations, Internal Affairs matters, or Open Public Records Act requests.
Officials said both the Dover Police captain and chief were aware of the lieutenant’s access and found his use of the system to be lawful and appropriate.
Lieutenant exonerated after internal review
After determining no crimes occurred, prosecutors launched an administrative Internal Affairs investigation in accordance with the state’s Internal Affairs Policy and Procedures. That review found the lieutenant was exonerated — meaning the actions took place but did not violate any law, directive, or department protocol.
Investigators also determined that the lieutenant had no role in choosing, purchasing, or installing the VoIP system. The town council had approved monthly payments of $4,600 for the system’s services, and multiple senior municipal officials were aware of its recording features.
Prosecutor’s office emphasizes transparency
The prosecutor’s office notified the New Jersey Office of Public Integrity and Accountability when the complaint was received and provided updates throughout the investigation. Officials said the findings were made public to ensure transparency and maintain public trust in the handling of police oversight matters.
No criminal charges were filed, and the Dover Police Department’s Internal Affairs lieutenant remains cleared of wrongdoing.
