Rumors that P’burg police chief is being forced to resign are unfounded, mayor says

Whether Phillipsburg's Police Chief will retire at the end of the year remains unclear.

Chief of Police Robert Stettner told a reporter on Thursday that he hadn't yet made a decision about his future.

"This is a deeply personal matter," he said, "When the time comes, I will make my decision with careful consideration for my family, the department, and the town...[and] I will continue to support both the department and the town just as I have for the past 24 and a half years."

Mayor Randy Piazza said he would support any decision made by the chief of police, and called rumors circulating on Facebook that Stettner was given an ultimatum by the town to exit his position baseless.

"I am not aware of anything like that," Piazza said. The mayor would not discuss whether he and the chief had discussed the possibility of Stettner's retirement.

The Phillipsburg Police Department shared a post to its Facebook page on Nov. 2, that has since been removed, according to a community blog, which "unequivocally" denied the allegations the police chief was given an ultimatum. The post referred all inquiries to the Warren County Prosecutor's Office.

The Warren County Prosecutor's Office did not return a request for comment.

"I can't comment on personnel issues," Piazza said. "If he is considering retiring we have plenty of qualified candidates who can also fill the role."

Stettner was named acting chief of police in 2016, and appointed to the role later by former Mayor Stephen Ellis, following the retirement for former Police Chief James Faulborn. A 2023 statute now requires the chief of police and the Phillipsburg Police Department to report directly to the mayor.

Personnel records regarding retirement and resignation are not available via the Open Public Records Act.