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Anthony G. Attrino
nj.com
A second lawsuit has been filed towards a captain within the Palisades Park Police Division, claiming the supervisor abused his place and retaliated towards a sergeant who filed complaints towards him.
The lawsuit states the alleged abuse was so pervasive that directors within the police division requested the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Workplace to analyze, however that no prison expenses had been filed.
Sgt. George Beck claims in courtroom papers Capt. Shawn Lee harassed him after he cooperated with an Inside Affairs Investigation that was launched across the time one other officer filed go well with towards the division over Lee.
That officer, Samuel Kim, claimed in a July 2021 lawsuit that Lee made his life a nightmare by shouting at him in public, bullying him within the locker room and assaulting him with chopsticks. Kim, who now works as a police officer in one other city, not too long ago settled his lawsuit with the borough for $120,000.
Beck claims that Lee has harassed not solely Kim and himself, however different cops within the division, in accordance with the go well with, filed Tuesday in Superior Court docket of Bergen County.
On Nov. 4, 2019, Beck gave a recorded interview to Inside Affairs by which he reported “a number of incidents throughout which Lee bodily threatened and/or assaulted different cops.”
The incidents allegedly included Lee putting a police officer as a result of Lee believed the officer wasn’t exhibiting him respect; difficult an officer to a fistfight within the presence of different individuals, together with the officer’s kids; and almost working his police automobile into Beck.
“In a match of rage, Lee abruptly and recklessly reversed his automobile right into a parking spot, almost working over Beck’s toes in a blatant try to put Beck in worry for his security,” the go well with states.
Lee didn’t instantly reply on Thursday to an electronic mail and a telephone message requesting touch upon the brand new lawsuit.
Beck’s 34-page lawsuit additionally alleges that Lee vindictively eliminated him from his job as public relations and social media coordinator – regardless of his background as a journalist – and as a substitute positioned him on the “undertaking drugs dropbox” and as “backup home violence liaison.”
“Lee had Beck assigned to those positions to embarrass (him), as each assignments had been thought-about menial/lowly all through the PPPD,” the go well with states.
In an Oct. 31, 2019 letter to Palisades Park police Captain Anthony Muccio, Beck wrote that Lee had behaved so aggressively that Beck was scared of him.
“Lee is focusing on me and has created a hostile work atmosphere towards me to the purpose I’m involved for my security,” the letter states.
“Furthermore, due to his demonstrated aggression and lack of judgment, I’ve critical issues about how he could also be treating different members of the division and, probably, members of the general public,” the letter states.
In response, Muccio wrote to borough Mayor Christopher Chung in January 2020, stating {that a} police inner affairs investigation and interview with now former Officer Kim decided {that a} prison offense might have occurred.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Workplace was requested to analyze, however they decided {that a} prison cost was “not acceptable,” Muccio’s letter to the mayor states.
In an undated letter to Beck, Muccio wrote that Lee had violated departmental guidelines and laws and that he could be handled. “He might be topic to self-discipline below our company’s procedures,” the letter states.
It’s not clear whether or not Lee was disciplined, and police and borough lawyer John Schettino and different officers didn’t instantly reply Thursday to requests for remark.
NorthJersey.com reported in February 2020 that Lee was suspended with out pay for 5 days and ordered to attend harassment coaching and anger administration lessons on account of an inner affairs investigation.
Beck claims in his go well with that Lee has made his work expertise so insupportable that he has been compelled to work early and late shifts in order that he’s not on responsibility similtaneously Lee.
The sergeant is claiming intentional infliction of emotional misery, and a violation of the New Jersey Conscientious Worker Safety Act.
The go well with seeks a jury trial, together with compensatory and punitive damages to be decided in courtroom.
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Anthony G. Attrino could also be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Observe him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Discover NJ.com on Fb.
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