WYCKOFF - The Township Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to suspend police Chief Benjamin Fox as the state investigates an email he sent in 2014 appearing to condone racial profiling, according to Township Mayor Kevin Rooney.

Rooney said in a statement the suspension was necessary "to allow for the investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and their appointed monitor to continue without any chance for interruption."

The Township Committee met in closed session April 19 to discuss issues related to the suspension. Fox was notified of the meeting but declined to attend, the mayor said.

Fox's attorney, Arthur G. Margeotes, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday.

In the Dec. 2014 email to the police department, Fox stated he was concerned that misguided complaints about police would cause officers to react slowly in threatening situations.

"Profiling, racial or otherwise, has its place in law enforcement when used correctly and applied fairly," states the email, which was released earlier this year by the ACLU-NJ.

"Black gang members from Teaneck commit burglaries in Wyckoff," the email states. "That's why we check out suspicious black people in white neighborhoods."

State and national leaders have condemned the police chief for his alleged remarks and Fox voluntarily went on paid administrative leave for a time after the email was made public.

During his suspension, Fox will continue to collect his salary of about $175,000.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.