By Peter Elacqua
Staff Writer
COLTS NECK – Police Chief Kevin Sauter is serving an unpaid five-day suspension this week, from Aug. 29 through Sept. 2.
At a special meeting on Aug. 24, the Township Committee enacted a recommendation for Sauter’s suspension that was made by retired state Superior Court Judge Robert O’Hagan.
From Oct. 23-28, 2015, Sauter attended a conference that was organized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in Chicago.
Municipal officials subsequently charged Sauter with failure to seek the proper prior written approval from the Township Committee; failure to use vacation time during his attendance at the conference; and having an on-duty police officer who was driving a police vehicle pick him up at Newark Liberty International Airport upon his return to New Jersey.
On April 28, O’Hagan conducted a hearing on the matter in Colts Neck. He eventually recommended a five-day suspension for Sauter without pay. The committee members accepted his recommendation for the veteran police chief.
Sauter was represented by attorney Charles Sciarra, who, in the wake of the committee’s decision to suspend the police chief, said, “The action by the town is complete, total and utter crap. They approved this training, making it an official action. Then they falsify documents to pretend they did not approve the training when a citizen allegedly asks why a Colts Neck police car was at the airport dropping off the chief, which has been done for decades. They are either cowards or liars. Either way, the taxpayers of Colts Neck are in for an expensive litigation.”
Mayor Thomas Orgo could not immediately be reached to respond to the attorney’s comments.
