Judge's Ruling Backs Chief Delaney

The decision says Mayor James P. Dodd's efforts to reorganize the department violated the Chief's contract.

Dover Police Chief Jonathan Delaney sued Mayor James P. Dodd for, among other things, defamation and harassment in 2025. (Photo/DOVERNOW.com)

Dover Police Chief Jonathan Delaney won a partial victory in his lawsuit against Mayor James P. Dodd in his battle to fight a reorganization of the Police Department leadership.

In a dispute that's spiked higher than the 4th of July holiday heat index, Chief Delaney has spent more than a year fighting Mayor Dodd's claims of department mismanagement and other personal attacks, as well as the move to replace Delaney with a civilian public safety officer.

In a decision released June 29, Jersey Superior Court Judge Jennifer McAndrew Vuotto ruled that Dover's reorganization plan violated the terms of Delaney's employment contract.

"Defendants’ argument that Plaintiff remains chief of police and has received his salary and benefits does not negate the fact that the town took concrete steps to remove Plaintiff from his position without just cause," Judge Vuollo wrote in her ruling.

The ruling supported last October's decision by fellow Superior Court Judge Stuart Minkowitz, who ruled against the department reorganization. He reinforced the ruling in November; Dover appealed the decision, but eventually withdrew the appeal.

Judge Vuollo withheld any judgment on other issues in Chief Delaney's suit, pending further review of the claims. That portion of the case will proceed at a later date.

Chief Delaney's attorney, Richard Flaum, applauded Judge Vuollo's action.

“We can say as counsel for Chief Delaney we were very pleased with the result of the motion, Flaum said. "We gave Dover many chances to withdraw the Ordinances when they were originally considered, and they refused. We advised Dover that their actions were a breach of the Chiefs' contract.”

Mayor Dodd blasted the ruling in a Facebook post on the town page, calling Chief Delaney's contract "one of the most one-sided police chief contracts we have ever encountered..."

Dodd added that "We have asked our litigation attorney, who was appointed by the Morris County Joint Insurance Fund, to review the decision and determine the appropriate next steps."

Council member Sandra Wittner, who voted against the 2025 ordinance approving Delaney's ouster, said she can't comment on Judge Vuollo's ruling because it's an active lawsuit and personnel matter, but she doesn't approve of Mayor Dodd's Facebook post.

"Mayor Dodd's response letter is reckless and disingenuous and will cost the taxpayer yet again," she said. "This administration must stop squandering precious taxpayer dollars on lawsuits that we can't win."