Newark Police Officer Loses Job for Pointing Gun at Motorist

A Newark police officer, a brother-in-law of the department’s director Samuel DeMaio, has been kicked off the force for brandishing his weapon at a motorist in 2012, NJ.com reported.

Ugo Bellomo will also enter a one-year program that allows offenders to avoid criminal prosecution and must also perform 10 hours of community service, according to the Essex County Superior Court ruling handed down Friday.

In November 2012, the 44-year-old Bellomo was driving near another vehicle on Rt. 24 in Millburn when he rolled down his window and pointed his gun at the driver, who called 911. Bellomo was stopped and released without arrest, but was later indicted on a fourth-degree aggravated assault charge.

Some Newark officials complained Bellomo, who was allowed to remain on the job after the indictment, received special treatment, but the head of the city’s main police union praised Bellomo Friday and said he would be “greatly missed.”