Former longtime Sayreville police chief appointed to slain councilwoman’s seat
SAYREVILLE – The Borough Council has turned to a familiar face to fill the seat left by slain Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour.
Former longtime Sayreville Police Chief John Zebrowski was selected Monday night to fill the seat vacated by Dwumfour, a Republican, who was brutally gunned down outside her home in early February.
Zebrowski joined the borough police department in 1988 and served as its top cop for 11 years. He retired in August last year.
The Sayreville Republican Committee also submitted candidates Steven Bukovec and Kenneth Kreismer for consideration.
Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick said, "this does not happen very often."
"It's never happened as a result of a murder that we are now replacing one of our council people," Kilpatrick said.
Zebrowski, who was sworn in at Monday’s council meeting, said he appreciates the opportunity to fill the responsibility.
"I'll do so dutifully and hope to serve and work well with my colleagues as we move forward," he said.
The mayor said she looks forward to working with Zebrowski and being able to move Sayreville forward.
But, she said, her heart remains broken.
Kilpatrick said she believes that Dwumfour is looking down upon us, and "I hope that she will give newly appointed Councilman Zebrowski the strength and the wisdom to make the decisions that are in the best interest of our residents at all times."
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The appointment did not come without dissent.
Councilwoman Mary Novak nominated Kreismer for the position, and Novak, along with Councilman Vincent Conti, voted against Zebrowski's appointment.
Which committees Zebrowski will serve as liaison to remains undecided.
Dwumfour was found dead in her vehicle with several gunshot wounds by Sayreville police officers who went to Samuel Circle off Ernston Road in the Parlin section after receiving 911 calls at 7:22 p.m. Feb. 1 of gunshots fired.
In the month since the brutal killing, authorities have yet to offer many details about the case or even hold a news conference. No suspects or motives for the killing have been announced and no arrests have been made.
Visitation and funeral services for Dwumfour have been scheduled for 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 4, at Bethany Baptist Church, 275 West Market St., Newark, according to her obituary. Burial will follow at Hollywood Memorial Park, 1500 Stuyvesant Ave., Union, Union County.
Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Former Sayreville police chief appointed to Eunice Dwumfour's seat
