EDISON — Edison Mayor Antonia Ricigliano today suspended police Chief Thomas Bryan without pay, citing allegations of insubordination and failure to comply with directives.

"It all relates to management of the department, nothing to do with crime prevention," Ricigliano said.

Township business administrator Dennis Gonzalez said he handed Bryan a list of about eight charges in a conference room outside Ricigliano's office about 10:30 a.m. today.

Gonzalez and Ricigliano refused to release a copy of the charges, saying it was a personnel matter.

"Obviously he was angry and he left the room," Gonzalez said.

A hearing date on the charges is set for April 15, but the mayor has yet to select a hearing officer.

Ricigliano called the suspension a "tremendous" step that she did not take lightly.

Gonzalez said township council members were sent e-mails notifying them of the suspension moments after Bryan was given the charges.

Bryan, when contacted early this afternoon, referred all comment to his attorney.

Deputy Chief Carmelo Vaticano is now in charge of the department, Ricigliano said.

The suspension comes two days before township council members were to resume their investigation of Ricigliano, Gonzalez and mayoral aide William Stevenson. Council members issued subpoenas to all three, seeking information about the mayor's administration.

Thursday's meeting has since been canceled. Edison council President Robert Diehl criticized Gonzalez for planning to leave that day for spring training major league baseball games in Florida.

"He was subpoenaed Thursday and made plans to go away on Friday," Diehl said.

He said Gonzalez is leaving while the town is dealing with a budget that will lay off 60 employees on April 8, and while the council is investigating the administration.

"Nero is fiddling while Rome burns," Diehl said.

Gonzalez said he planned months ago to take a trip with his son, and the mayor had approved the time-off.

Council members have said they want to dismiss Gonzalez and Stevenson for actions they have taken in advising the mayor.

One issue has been the mayor's decision to demote police officers twice within 12 months, a move she said was intended to put more officers on the streets.

Diehl reacted with shock to the police chief's suspension. "It is unbelievable," Diehl said.

He said council members were unaware of a dispute between the mayor and the chief. "None, nothing, not an inkling," he said.

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