ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS — Police Capt. Keith Wicker, a 25-year veteran of the Englewood Cliffs Police Department, died Friday morning, Feb. 20, following a long battle with cancer. He was 51.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by Christina Fornazor on behalf of friends to support the family had raised more than $182,000 as of press time. In the appeal, Fornazor described Wicker as “a devoted member of St. Pius Church in Old Tappan,” adding that he lived there with his wife, Amy, and their children, Charlie and Paige.
“Keith can often be found on a baseball diamond, soccer field, or at any other town gathering showing support to his kids — and ours! Keith is as good as they come,” Fornazor wrote, calling him “that one-of-a-kind, salt-of-the-earth, all-around great guy.”
She wrote, too, that Wicker “is also known for his strength and resilience. He has battled brain cancer for many years and now he’s fighting a rare form of blood cancer. True to Wicker form, they haven’t asked for any help, but they deserve it. This GoFundMe was created to ease their burden so that Amy and the kids’ sole focus can be Keith and his fight against cancer.”
Department: “We more so celebrate his life”
In a statement posted Saturday, the Englewood Cliffs Police Department said it was “with a heavy heart” that it mourned Wicker’s passing and reflected on his career.
“Captain Keith Wicker began his journey as a police officer within the Borough of Englewood Cliffs in 2000,” the department wrote. “After graduating from the police academy in 2001, he was assigned to the Patrol Division where he effectively enforced traffic and criminal law, made self-initiated arrests, adhered to the principles of Community Policing, and volunteered his time at various borough events.
“In 2007, he was assigned as a Task Force Officer to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). During his five-year tenure in this assignment, he participated in some of the largest seizures of drug money in the DEA’s history.
“In 2012, he was promoted to sergeant. In 2013, he returned to directly serve the borough in the Detective Bureau as detective lieutenant. His investigative efforts led to the arrest and convictions of countless perpetrators of criminal activity against victims in Englewood Cliffs.
“He was promoted to captain in 2020. He served as Patrol Division commander starting in 2021. In over 25 years of service to this community he undoubtedly touched the lives of countless residents and citizens, all while wearing the badge with honor and dignity.
“While we mourn his passing, we more so celebrate his life; and we are thankful to have served with a man of his caliber.”
Community fundraising effort continues
The GoFundMe effort quickly drew widespread support from residents, friends, and law enforcement colleagues across the region.
Neighboring police departments have also shared condolences and encouraged the public to continue supporting the fundraiser.
The Englewood Police Department posted: “Our hearts are heavy today as we stand alongside our brothers at the Englewood Cliffs Police Department. The loss of an officer is felt by the entire law enforcement family, regardless of the patches we wear. We offer our deepest condolences to Keith’s family, friends, and colleagues. To the ECPD, we are here for you. Keith, thank you for your service and your inspiring fight. Rest in peace.”
The Woodcliff Lake Police Department, in a statement issued after Wicker’s death, called him a public servant who served “with honor, dedication, and professionalism,” and said anyone interested in helping to support the family “can join efforts through” the GoFundMe campaign.
And the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association extended “our deepest sympathies to the Wicker family and the Englewood Cliffs Police Department,” adding: “Captain Keith Wicker served for over 25 years with integrity, courage and professionalism. May he rest in eternal peace.”
Coverage dispute drew attention before Wicker’s death
In the week leading up to Wicker’s death, a public dispute emerged over whether Wicker’s family would face healthcare contribution costs under Chapter 78 of state law, or whether longstanding contract language and past practice in Englewood Cliffs would allow the family to remain covered without contributions.
The New Jersey State PBA publicly urged that “the right decision” be made with the family’s best interests in mind, and the Englewood Cliffs PBA pressed borough officials to ensure continued coverage.
At a special meeting of the mayor and council on Feb. 19, Lt. Gregory Romano, speaking for the Englewood Cliffs Police Officers Association, opened by thanking borough officials for confirming coverage for Wicker’s family.
“As a unit, we want to thank you for providing Captain Wicker’s family with healthcare coverage as stated in our contract,” Romano said, calling the matter “imminent” and saying it would provide the family “some peace during this difficult time.”
Romano then disputed prior remarks by Borough Administrator Intashan Chowdhury regarding retiree healthcare contributions, saying the benefits at issue were “expressly negotiated,” including during the 2019–2023 contract talks. Romano said that in contracts since 2011, officers have made “painful concessions” to preserve the healthcare clause, and he urged borough officials to “honor the contract.”
Borough officials have maintained that state law governs contribution requirements unless formally modified through collective bargaining. The PBA disputes that interpretation, arguing that contract language and negotiating history govern the benefit.
We reached out to Chowdhury for comment on Feb. 16 and 21 and did not hear back.
PBA: “100% medically covered with zero contributions,” but broader dispute remains
In a statement provided by the Englewood Cliffs Police Officers Association to Northern Valley Press on Feb. 21, PBA Chairman P.O. Rommes and Co-Chairman P.O. Minetti said the bargaining unit appreciated condolences and sought to clarify what it described as longstanding contractual terms regarding retiree health benefits and survivor coverage.
The union said the borough administrator has asserted that Englewood Cliffs has not followed state law since 2011 under Chapter 78 for healthcare contributions upon retirement. The bargaining unit countered that, “for over a decade,” officers negotiated concessions—including raises, longevity pay, and the elimination of a deputy chief position, among other items—specifically to preserve retiree healthcare benefits.
According to the statement, the contract “clearly states” the borough will cover healthcare contributions for retired members “in full,” and that when a member passes away the coverages that are paid by the borough “will pass to the spouse and children,” with “no contributions” required.
The bargaining unit said the borough has stated Chapter 78 must be followed, but the union argued that Chapter 78’s contribution provisions have “sunset,” and said there is no reason, in its view, to require retirees who left after 25 years of service under contractual language calling for zero contributions to be held to contribution levels comparable to those paid by active employees.
“Our contractual contributions upon retirement have always been zero and that is because we have always negotiated to keep it that way,” the statement said. “All we are asking is for them to do the right thing and honor the contract that has always been honored by previous elected officials who have always interpreted and understood our retiree benefits to be exactly the way it is written, ZERO!”
The statement said two members were prepared to retire when the borough—after agreeing upon terms for a new contract—advised the union that its interpretation of retiree healthcare was believed to be impacted by Chapter 78.
The statement also said Wicker’s family “will be 100% medically covered with zero contributions” and thanked what it described as “the appropriate authority” for rendering that decision, which it said “should have never been in question.”
However, the bargaining unit said the decision was not made because borough officials were honoring the contract; rather, it said the outcome was reached through “a specific retirement option” that had to be sought after and “figured out,” which it said added more pain to an already difficult situation. The statement cited what it described as case law out of Brick Township as support for that option.
The union said the broader question remains whether the borough council will uphold what it described as decades of negotiated agreements reached after significant concessions by its members. It also noted that despite receiving a cease-and-desist letter from borough labor counsel, the bargaining unit said it remains willing to meet with “the appropriate authority,” as it said it has done in the past.
Funeral arrangements pending
Funeral arrangements had not yet been announced as of press time.