July 22, 2011 NJ police chief suspended after assaulting patrol officer www.privateofficer.com
SOUTH HACKENSACK NJ July 22 2011 — Police Chief Michael Frew has been suspended with pay after a judge found there is probable cause that he assaulted and harassed a township police officer.
The suspension was approved by the Township Committee after its special counsel, John D’Anton, who attended the probable cause hearing last week, made the recommendation.
“It’s in the interest of the department to not have the department head there until there has been an adjudication on the merits of the claim,’’ D’Anton said Wednesday.
Frew could not be immediately reached.
But his attorney, Robert Galantucci, said there is no basis for the charges. He said politics is playing a role in the Township Committee’s decision, saying he heard that the suspension papers were already drafted prior to the court hearing.
“It’s regrettable that they are doing this to a police chief who is well-regarded, and we are looking forward to a total and complete vindication and his return to work,” Galantucci said.
The three complaints filed against the chief last month allege that he assaulted Police Officer Glen Evans while the policeman was on duty. The complaints allege aggravated assault, harassment and official misconduct.
Deputy Chief Michael Montenegro is handling the day-to-day operations of the department. Montenegro was also in charge of letting officers know about the chief’s suspension, said Mayor Walter Eckel Jr.
The resolution, approved by the Township Committee Thursday night, states Frew will be suspended until charges against him are resolved. The chief must surrender his credentials including his identification and badge, his service weapon, keys to his office and police department, the chief’s vehicle, and any other township property, according to resolution. Frew is also banned from police headquarters unless his presence is required by Montenegro, the resolution states.
Frew’s employment contract says he was earning an annual base salary of $140,404 in 2009, when the contract expired. Linda LoPiccolo, the township clerk, said there is no other contract and that Frew continues to receive the 2009 salary.
D’Anton said Frew was sent a Rice letter notifying him that the Township Committee would discuss his employment, but that he did not attend the meeting.
Judge Roy F. McGeady, presiding judge of the municipal division, downgraded the aggravated assault charge to simple assault, and is allowing it and one of two harassment charges to move forward. He found no probable cause in the official misconduct charge. A trial has been scheduled for Sept. 8, according to the attorneys and court staff.
Copies of the complaints obtained by The Record through an Open Public Records request state that the alleged incident occurred on May 26.
The summonses allege that while Evans was on duty and in uniform, Frew committed aggravated assault and caused bodily injury by charging the officer from “across the room and choking him with on [sic] hand around his neck while holding him pinned against the wall.”
The harassment complaint states the chief subjected the officer to “shoving and offensive touching,” specifically by pinning the officer against the wall by his throat. The same complaint also alleges that Frew called the officer on the telephone and threatened him, saying “there will be a price to pay for your actions.”
Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said in an e-mail Wednesday that his office has no jurisdiction and will not get involved in the matter, because McGeady found no probable cause on the indictable offenses of aggravated assault and official misconduct.
Frew was sworn in as chief in 2005, several months after former Chief Gene Roman retired.
Prior to his appointment, Frew supporters packed committee meetings urging officials to select him as chief and not to base their decision on politics. They opposed the committee’s decision to accept applications and consider interviewing departmental candidates with less rank.
A graduate of Memorial School in South Hackensack and Hackensack High School, Frew served in the Marine Corps and joined the South Hackensack Police Department in 1983 as a patrol officer. He was promoted to sergeant in 1992 and became detective sergeant in 1995. He was named lieutenant in 1999 and captain in 2000.
Source:NorthJersey.com
Tags: NJ police chief suspended after assaulting patrol officer, Police Chief Michael Frew
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