State Calls On Union County Leaders To Discipline Cops Recorded Using Racial Slurs

CLARK, NJ — New Jersey's Office of the Attorney General is speaking out after a judge ruled that the Clark Chief of Police and one of his sergeants can be fired after they were allegedly recorded using racial slurs.

"We are grateful for the trial judge's sound ruling in this case," the Office of the Attorney General said in a statement. "We hope this authoritative ruling will allow Clark Township to proceed with its disciplinary process, which the officers' lawsuit unfortunately delayed."

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.

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."

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

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.

"Since the township's internal affairs process is active and ongoing, and the court's reasoning for this decision is sealed, the Attorney General's Office declines to comment further," the statement added.

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

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

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.

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