Chief Kennedy Latest in Sea Isle Police Woes

SEA ISLE CITY –– Another member of this town’s police department is facing potential criminal charges and this time it’s the top cop.
According to city Solicitor Paul Baldini, Chief William Kennedy had to surrender his weapons and was directed to administrative and desk duties following the issuance of a temporary restraining order that was entered against him by his wife, Phyllis. Superior Court Judge Kyran Connor signed the order under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act.
The court’s domestic violence unit said a hearing on the restraining order scheduled for yesterday was cancelled with no new date set.
Kennedy joins two other city policemen that made headlines recently for their alleged misdeeds.
Sgt. Vincenzo J. Macrino, 33, was charged with falsifying a police report in a summer 2006 underage drinking case, for which he was admitted into a pretrial intervention program in April that forced him to do community service, lose his job and not seek future public employment.
In September, rookie officer Kyle McClory, 22, was accused of using his urine to help a friend in the city’s public works department pass a drug test. He faces as many as 10 years in prison if convicted on the second-degree charge of official misconduct.
And now the chief is under investigation.
Mayor Leonard Desiderio and City Council held an emergency closed session meeting Oct. 25 to discuss potential litigation with Chief Kennedy.
“No formal action was taken against any city employee,” Baldini said after the meeting when asked if Chief Kennedy had been suspended.
When asked why the city was expecting litigation, Baldini referred to recent online Herald Spout Offs as an indication.
The Spout Offs suggest a possible relationship between Chief Kennedy and a female employee in the Public Safety Department, of which Mrs. Kennedy became aware.
As of this newspaper’s deadline, Chief Kennedy was still in charge of the police department, but County Prosecutor Robert Taylor recommended the parties agree on a temporary leave of absence considering the current circumstances.
Taylor said his office is investigating the matter.
“The city will fully and completely cooperate with that investigation,” Baldini said in a press release. “The mayor and council will work together to ensure the city’s interests are protected and any employee involved is handled professionally and fairly.”
Kennedy has been an officer in the department since 1983 and its chief of police since March 2004.
Controversy has surrounded the Kennedys for the past several years.
The couple has been in almost constant litigation with the city’s school board, of which the chief is a former member, over their autistic son’s education.
In May 2005, police were called to the school on a report that Mrs. Kennedy was yelling and creating a disruptive environment. The chief handled the call and his wife was not charged. The Prosecutor’s Office cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Last year in February Chief Kennedy called 911 after his wife fell into freezing water off the 47th Street jetty. Chief Kennedy has denied that his wife was trying to hurt herself, but admitted publicly she was distraught over their battles with the school.
After the Oct. 25 meeting, Council President Mike McHale asked that the community keep the Kennedy family in its prayers during this difficult time.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com