The Tuckerton Borough Council fired Police Cpl. Justin Cherry during its April 6 municipal meeting, ending his six-year, anxiety-ridden unpaid administrative leave from the police force.

His actions as the borough’s K-9 officer in January 2014 first led to a criminal charge of assault; he was exonerated of that charge in April 2019. Then 16 disciplinary charges were filed against him by Tuckerton Police Chief Brian Olsen and the borough.