Howell Police Chief Steps Down, Replaced by Mark Pilecki

Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick on Thursday officially retired from the department.

Kudrick, who has served in the department for 32 years, including 7 years as its chief, said on Facebook that he chose to retire now after coming to an agreement with the department and the PBA.

Despite the timing of his retirement coming just a day after he was attacked for denying that he shut down a prize giveaway in Jackson, Kudrick said his retirement was planned long in advance.

“Last year I announced to my staff my intention to retire this year. It was a decision I have been heavily weighing the last few months,” he wrote on Facebook. “Today, I did not hesitate to accept an offer that was presented to me. Although my love for this job is the same as the first day, it is time to move on.”

Kudrick had been planning to retire anyway at the end of April, but instead pushed it up due to receiving this new job offer, which he did not elaborate on.

“I was honored to be the Chief of Police of an agency I have held in such high regard since I was a child,” Kudrick said. “Being the Chief of Police was an absolute honor. It did however come with significant responsibilities, challenges and situations. From deadly force encounters to managing a public health crisis, it wears heavy after time, especially on one’s family. Although I had to make many tough decisions as a Chief, sometimes unpopular, this one wasn’t.”

Kudrick stood up in the face of intense criticism from some when he refused to shut down Thanksgiving parties despite Governor Murphy’s orders to do so during the Covid-19 pandemic.

More recently, he received a “no-confidence” vote amid a fight with the PBA, which had accused him of trying to sabotage their union. Kudrick has never publicly addressed their claims.

Captain Mark Pilecki has now been sworn in as the new Howell Police Chief.