A continuation of a public hearing over the Plainsboro Police Department’s terminatation of one of its officers on four charges of misconduct will continue on Wednesday, December 16 at 1 p.m.
Corporal Nicholas Procaccini’s hearing, made public at the officer’s request, began on OCtober 30 and lasted a little more than an hour, but was adjourned after Procaccini’s attorney raised a procedural question regarding how the hearing would address his claims that the charges brought against his client violate the 45-day rule. That rule places a 45-day limit on the time the department has to file a complaint against an officer after a violation occurs.
Procaccini, whose public case has brought to the surface years of ongoing turmoil in the Plainsboro Police Department, said that the procedural question has yet to be resolved, but that the hearing will continue anyway.
The police department is pursuing Procaccini’s termination based on four charges: he was late for duty; he did not follow protocol when making motor vehicle stops; he violated procedure dealing with sick leave; and he violated policy in using the department’s E-mail system.
Central to the township’s argument is that there are strict laws and regulations governing police departments in New Jersey, and that Procaccini, who served as the president of the Plainsboro PBA for 14 years, violated those laws.
Procaccini’s attorney, however, alleges that the charges are for behavior exhibited by many officers in the department and that his client is unfairly being targeted as a result of defending another officer whom he says was terminated for filing a sexual harassment complaint. He characterized Procaccini, of South Lane in West Windsor, as a whistleblower.
That officer, Jennifer Wittmer, has filed her own lawsuit against the township and its police department based on allegations of sexual harrassment. Another officer, Jason Mariano, has also filed a claim alleging that, like Procaccini, he was targeted after coming to her defense.
