ANDOVER BOROUGH — A former West Orange policeman was sentenced today to 180 days in jail for threatening to kill his wife with a knife and his department-issued handgun during an argument at their Sussex County home.

Keith Reilly, 29, brandished the knife and a .40-caliber handgun when he threatened his wife during an alcohol-induced argument at their Andover Borough home on Oct. 16, 2008, law enforcement officials said.

Superior Court Judge N. Peter Conforti, sitting in Newton, also sentenced Reilly to four years’ probation and ordered him to undergo anger management counseling, attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and perform 100 hours of community service instructing others about the dangers of alcohol abuse, said Sussex County First Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller.

As a result of his conviction, Reilly will be barred from ever getting another job in law enforcement and his employment as a West Orange policeman was terminated, said Mueller.

As part of a plea bargain, Reilly pleaded guilty on Jan. 13 to making terroristic threats and criminal restraint, both third-degree crimes.

A more serious charge of first-degree kidnapping, filed against Reilly for holding his wife against her will, was dismissed as part of the deal.

Prior to entering his guilty plea, Reilly, who was honored as West Orange’s best police officer in 2007, told the judge that he drank two beers prior to the three-hour incident. He said he never meant to hurt his wife.