Andrew Kudrick, a retired Howell Township police chief, acknowledged providing false statements to obstruct an investigation into his sexual affair with a subordinate.
Kudrick admitted his guilt during a hearing before Judge Paul X. Escandon on May 13, 2024, in the state Superior Court for Monmouth County, Freehold.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said Kudrick, 50, of Farmingdale, pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function, categorized as a fourth-degree offense.
Under the terms of the plea agreement with OPIA, Kudrick faces a lifetime ban on public employment. Prosecutors also recommend a non-custodial probation sentence, the duration of which is pending court determination.
The sentencing is tentatively scheduled for July 19, 2024.
The case against Kudrick originated from an investigation initiated by Howell Township following an incident at a work-related event. This investigation aimed to uncover potential issues of a hostile work environment and sexual harassment within the Howell Township Police Department.
The charges against Kudrick, which stem from an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability’s Corruption Bureau, include false swearing, tampering with public records, tampering with and retaliating against witnesses, and obstructing the administration of law.
During the plea colloquy, Kudrick admitted to providing false denials regarding his involvement in a sexual affair with a subordinate employee during an official interview.
The case took a more serious turn when it was alleged that in late March 2022, Kudrick resorted to threats, attempting to launch an unjustified internal affairs investigation against a police department member who possessed knowledge and evidence of the affair. This action was interpreted as an effort to intimidate the witness into withholding truthful cooperation during the township’s investigation.
Deputy Attorney General Sherrod Smith and OPIA Corruption Deputy Bureau Chief Andrew Wellbrock are overseeing the prosecution, under the supervision of Corruption Bureau Chief Jeff Manis and OPIA Executive Director Drew Skinner.