Local Police Officers Cite Moench’s Effort to Repair Relations and Invest In
Public Safety After Damage And Neglect Under Former Mayor Hayes

For Immediate Release
October 17, 2023
The Bridgewater Township Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Local No. 174 proudly
endorsed Mayor Matthew C. Moench for re-election earlier today.
“Mayor Moench restored the partnership between the Township and the police officers that had
been severed under Former Mayor Hayes, by listening and learning about the problems and issues police
officers face daily while protecting and serving the public,” the PBA said in its release.
In its statement to the public, the PBA cited a myriad of positive developments since Matt
Moench became mayor. These developments include:
• Adding four new officers to the ranks
• Implementing schedule changes that ensure more officers on duty at peak times
• Fighting overdevelopment to ensure the Police Department’s resources are not strained by
additional traffic control problems and increased crime.
• Implementing the Bridgewater SHIELD Program (Security, Honesty, Integrity, Expertise,
Loyalty, and Discipline), a program designed by the Bridgewater Police Department and
Township Administration to build and strengthen the ties between the police department and the
community
• Implementing the Community Police Alliance Project, which provides aid and support to at-risk
residents
You can read the endorsement in its entirety here: https://www.bridgewaterpba174.com/post/our-message
“Ensuring the public’s safety is the single greatest responsibility those of us entrusted with public
office will ever have. As with so much our administration inherited when we took office in 2020, it has
taken hard work, dedication, and collaboration to repair the damage done in this area by Former Mayor
Hayes,” said Mayor Moench. “We’ve worked with the PBA on many fronts to ensure that Bridgewater is
the safest community in Somerset County.”

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