Union Co. Cops Recorded Using Racial Slurs Can Be Fired, Judge Says: Report

CLARK, NJ — The Clark Chief of Police and one of his sergeants can be fired, a judge ruled, after they were allegedly recorded using racial slurs, according to NJ Advance Media.

A whistleblower came forward in 2020 with allegations that Chief Pedro Matros and Sgt. Joseph Teston, along with former mayor Sal Bonaccorso, had been recorded using racially insensitive remarks. Bonaccorso had since admitted and apologized for the remarks.

A third member of the force, Captain Vincent Concina, was also put on paid leave due to allegations of retaliation against the whistleblower, former Lt. Antonio Manata.

The legal teams for the suspended members of the force have not said if any appeals will be made following the judge's ruling.

The men have been fighting their disciplinary hearings with lawsuits alleging the handling of their suspensions involved misconduct. The challenges argued that no discipline should be carried out due to an 18-month period between April 2022 and October 2023 when prosecutors hadn't produced any sufficient development in their case.

Prosecutors said the speed and process did not affect future disciplinary matters and told a judge at a hearing on Dec. 3 that they were still actively working on the case.

"The idea that it takes 18 months for trained professional criminal prosecutors to say, 'Hmm, does that constitute official misconduct?' is really absurd," Timothy Donohue, attorney for Cocina, added according to NJ Advance Media.

Both the state's Governor and Attorney General have launched their own calls on the men to be removed from their roles.

In 2022, Governor Phil Murphy said he was "disturbed" at the scandal surrounding Bonaccorso and believed he should step down.

In November 2023, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said Teston and Matos should be fired, and called on Concina to be demoted following a review by the state into the department.

In a 43-page report, the department was also directed to take other measures moving forward, including improving its data collection and analysis, changing how traffic stops are performed, revising the attendance policies for superior officers, and enhancing civilian relationships, diversity in law enforcement, and officer wellness.

The state said the allegations "rocked the public's trust in government," that, according to Platkin, is the "bare minimum expectations communities should have in their leaders."

Patch has reached out to the Attorney General's office for comment on the judge's ruling regarding potential discipline and is yet to hear back.

After more than five years later, taxpayers are still footing the bill for the annual salaries in the six figures for all three men.

Each of their pay has grown by more than 14 percent following their suspension in 2020 and has amounted to a collective $2.6 million.

Settlement

In January 2020, Clark officials made a $400,000 deal with Manata to hand over the recordings to the township. Manata was allowed to stay on the payroll without working until February 2022 when he retired.

The recorded racial slurs came to light in July 2020 when the Union County Prosecutor's Office took over the Police Department amidst the "misconduct allegations" that were reported.

"We will conduct a full inquiry into credible allegations of misconduct," Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and Acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo said at the time, and "continue to work with our local partners to build greater trust between Clark's law enforcement officers and the community they serve."

RELATED COVERAGE: Clark Officials Paid $400K To Cover Up Racial Slurs Said By Mayor: Report

Mayors Involvement

In April 2022, Bonaccorso issued a video apology for his comments made in the secret recordings.

"I'm here to say I've made mistakes, and I'd like to apologize for the pain I caused to the residents of Clark, my family, my friends, and all those that were offended by my comments," said Bonaccorso.

"I've learned and I have changed, and it will not happen again," he added.

The township's longest-serving mayor resigned in January after a plea agreement in which he admitted to aiding his oil tank removal business with work from township employees and equipment. He also admitted to forging other documents related to his business.

READ MORE: Clark Mayor Used Town Employees To Run Personal Business: Authorities

He pleaded guilty on Jan. 10 to charges of conspiring to commit official misconduct (third-degree) and forgery (third-degree) stemming from using township employees for his own business gain

As part of his plea agreement, he agreed to be permanently barred from holding any future public office or employment.

He also agreed to be prohibited from bidding on any public contracts, entering into any public contracts, or conducting any business with the State or its political subdivisions for five years.

NJ Advance Media reporting has contributed to this story.

MORE FROM PATCH: Man Dead After Car Flipped Over Into Oncoming Traffic Along NJ Highway