Bergen County Sheriff Candidate Charged with Official Misconduct

By Jhoana T. Merino-Martinez 

News Editor

Bergen County Police Chief Robert Kugler and Sheriff Candidate was charged with official misconduct — an allegation he denies. 

Saddle Brook Police Chief Kugler was charged on March 8 with allegedly using on-duty officers as escorts for the funeral home he owns between Jan. 2019 to August 2020, NJ.com reports. 

Saddle Brook town ordinance condones using police vehicles as escorts unless for local government and non-profit purposes, NJ.com continues. 

The state Attorney General’s Office also alleges that the funeral home never reimbursed the Township of Saddle Brook for these services, the source continues. 

This second-degree official misconduct charge is a mandatory minimum of five years in prison without parole; Kugler is facing a possible prison sentence of 10 years and a fine along the line of $150,000, Patch.com reports. 

Kugler served as the Chief of Police since 1995, making him the longest serving tenured chief since the department’s establishment in 1942, Patch.com continues. 

This charge comes at a critical time, since Kugler plans to run for Bergen County Sheriff after his defeat in 2018, to which he attested that the election was unlawful, Northjersey.com reports. 

Leadership in our communities needs to be held accountable, especially in our criminal justice system.

COVID-19 Numbers

The following is the latest COVID-19 cases for yesterday and today. There were 3,775 new positive COVID-19 cases in New Jersey, with 410 new cases in Bergen County.

*Numbers according to Google Statistics.

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Photo of Robert Kugler courtesy of Jerry DeMarco