TRENTON – Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo today announced that the Union County Prosecutor’s Office (UCPO) will assume control of the law enforcement and internal affairs functions of the Clark Township Police Department, effective immediately.
Acting Prosecutor Ruotolo also announced that UCPO will conduct a full inquiry into credible allegations of misconduct involving the leadership of the Clark Township Police Department. Attorney General Grewal pledged the full support of his office not only to assist with UCPO’s inquiry, but also to work with UCPO to restore trust with local residents.
Attorney General Grewal and Acting Prosecutor Ruotolo released the following joint statement:
"The residents of Clark Township deserve police leaders that meet the highest standards of the profession. We will conduct a full inquiry into credible allegations of misconduct, and at the same time we will continue to work with our local partners to build greater trust between Clark’s law enforcement officers and the community they serve.”
UCPO Captain Harvey Barnwell will serve as Officer-in-Charge of the township’s police department. He will be assisted by UCPO Lieutenant Cassie Kim, who will assume responsibility for the department’s internal affairs unit, and UCPO Sergeant Andrew Dellaquila, who will provide support on a temporary basis.
Acting Prosecutor Ruotolo will assume control of the police department’s law enforcement’s functions through a process known as “supersession,” which permits the Prosecutor, as the county’s chief law enforcement officer, to supervise the law enforcement responsibilities of local police departments within the county.
Upon completion of the investigation, Acting Prosecutor Ruotolo will release a public report of the UCPO’s findings.
Residents who believe they possess information relevant to the investigation are encouraged to contact Lieutenant Brian O’Malley of the UCPO Professional Standards Unit at (908) 220-4323 or bomalley@ucnj.org or Detective Dennis Donovan of the UCPO Special Prosecutions Unit at (732) 232-2049 or ddonovan@ucnj.org.
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