By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
MAYS LANDING — The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office has taken over supervision of the Linwood Police Department amid an investigation into claims of misconduct by Police Chief John Hamilton.
In a news release, the Prosecutor’s Office stated that effective Jan. 1, “the supervision of the Linwood Police Department will be under the statutory authority vested in the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.”
“As such, I am compelled to exercise the authority over the day-to-day activities of the Linwood Police Department until further notice,” Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner stated.
According to the release, City Council took action by placing Hamilton on paid administrative leave.
On Dec. 9, City Council named Capt. Jason Weber acting chief and Lt. Steve Cunningham acting captain.
Hamilton took over the job April 1 from Doug Carman, who retired effective March 31 after 25 years on the force. Carman had been promoted to the position in 2015, following an agreement in which Linwood and Northfield shared a chief.
Whether it is Weber or someone else, the new chief will be the city’s fourth top cop in the past five years.
Last year, Carman and Hamilton settled a $400,000 whistleblower lawsuit with the city they filed in 2011, claiming a hostile work environment under former chief Jim Baker. The settlement called for each officer to receive $143,088.67, while their lawyer was paid $113,822.66, according to published reports.
After Baker retired, Carman was next in line to be police chief. Instead, Linwood signed an agreement with Northfield to share its chief, Colin Hickey, a Northfield resident who served on the Linwood police force for 25 years. The towns ended that agreement in 2015, when Carman was named police chief and Hamilton was promoted to captain.
Neither Mayor Darren Matik nor City Councilman Brian Heun, who oversees public safety, responded to requests for comment before deadline.
Matik wrote in a text following the appointment of Weber as acting chief:
“Presently, there are some confidential personnel matters in the Police Department, which are being addressed. Inasmuch as council is restricted and is unable to discuss personnel matters publicly, no further comment can be made. During the interim and until a resolution has been reached in this matter, Jason Weber will serve as acting chief of police and Steve Cunningham will serve as acting captain of the Linwood Police Department.”
