Suspended N.J. State Police sergeant files whistleblower suit
Monday, August 30, 2010
BY CHRIS MEGERIAN
STATE HOUSE BUREAU
A suspended New Jersey State Police sergeant has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the division, saying he was retaliated against for reporting financial waste.
According to the lawsuit, filed last week in Superior Court in Warren County, Sgt. James DeLorenzo, a 28-year veteran, reported mismanagement and waste within the State Police’s Solid Hazardous Waste Unit in 2006.
"He hoped they would clean up their act," said his lawyer, George Daggett. "Instead of cleaning up their act, they made his life miserable."
Daggett said the waste included no-show jobs, but would not provide specifics.
The Solid Hazardous Waste Unit performs background checks on people and businesses seeking licenses to work in the solid and hazardous waste industry. It also investigates licensed companies to ensure they are compliant with regulations.
Since he made allegations of waste, the State Police has pursued three internal investigations of DeLorenzo, Daggett said. Two of the investigations were dismissed, but a third continued and prevented him from retiring, Daggett said.
Last August, DeLorenzo, who had started working at an insurance company in preparation for his eventual retirement, was suspended without pay from the State Police for conducting personal business during work hours, Daggett said.
"They said he shouldn’t have had another job," the lawyer said. "But the real reason is, it traces back to the fact he blew the whistle."
Daggett said DeLorenzo, of Blairstown, lost his insurance job when internal investigators reported him to the company.
"He has no job, he has no pay from the State Police, he has no benefits," Daggett said. "All because he pointed out that they were wasting money."
State Police spokesman Sgt. Stephen Jones declined to comment on the lawsuit. The internal probe of DeLorenzo has been referred to the state Division of Criminal Justice for further investigation, he said.
Lee Moore, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office, also declined comment on the lawsuit.
Chris Megerian may be reached at (609) 989-0208 or cmegerian@starledger.com
12 comments:
SN3559
THE ONLY THING I SEE THAT SHOWS POSITIVE RESULTS DUE TO THE ALCU COMPLAINTS IS THAT THERE ARE MORE POLICE OFFICERS WALKING THE BEAT. THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED POLICING THE COMMUNITY. POLICE OFFICERS MUST GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD!!!!!!
Hazardous waste is always bad and it is a good thing that people are telling on this because this doesn't make any since I'm sure these police would not put it in the areas of the their family so why do it to others.
LC9671
if a officer finds and report waste in his own division he should be congratulated for his actions not prosecuted for it....AS9457
A fellow State Trooper pointed out about financial waste and now he lost his job, no benefits and lost his other job aswell. This is just wrong and shouldn't of happened. Sometimes nice guys finish last and this is what happened to him. He should of brought up another lawsuit so he can atleast get his benefits back.
- EM3583
It took alot of courage for this officer to become a whistleblower on his job. But he did mess up and started to do his other job's work during his policing hours. If you knew there are watching you, why even take that chance. Double dipping is not allowed at most jobs and in most cases you do get fired, and that part is his fault. Yes being fired with no pay and benefits is harsh but he should have thought about that before he started double dipping. SJC 1687
Deloernzo stood up for what was right. he shiuld be congratulated. im happy to know that their are still good people in law enforcement. T.C. 3006
i agree that more police offiecer like Deloernzo. should report and an act on it by doing this step the world would be a little better
#7974
Cops are suppose to protect and serve. The cop was right by blowing the whistle. Its weird that they dug deep just to find something to fire him. He should be given his job back. That's so coniving what they did. He probably has a family to support. And he's a veteran.
i think this is an double eged soward. If you were a wistleblower i would expect a very honest man, and stealing company time is not very honest when hes soppoed to have a great amount of integrity to do what he does. LMD 7029
When I hear of the term waste I immediately think about large profits. I think of plenty of money to go around more than once to keep everybody quite.
As a trooper, he must have become very disenchanted with his career choice. Justice is blind.
This is messed up, someone was out to get him for being a whistleblower. It's a shame some police officers just don't win in the end.
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