INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED POLICE MISCONDUCT FINDS NO CAUSE

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office, which had been investigating claims of police misconduct stemming from a post-fireworks incident last July, has found no evidence of such behavior, according to a letter sent to the Township Tuesday.

Township Administrator Joe Manning informed the Township Committee of the findings at the end of Tuesday's TC meeting, reading from a letter received Tuesday from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. It states, in part:

"The professional standards bureau has reviewed the above complaint made on September 8, 2016, against Chief Cimino and Captain Joshua Cummis. We concluded that there is insufficient credible evidence to warrant a prosecution in this matter. In addition, the investigation and review of all information failed to disclose sufficient evidence to clearly prove or disprove the allegation and it is closed as not sustained."

The investigation stemmed from an incident that occurred after the July 5, 2016, fireworks when police clashed with some juveniles at Valley Street and Cromwell Place, resulting in several arrests. The fireworks had been postponed from July 4 due to rain.

In August, Police Chief Robert Cimino announced an internal investigation had begun after complaints that some cops had behaved improperly. That was later followed by the County Prosecutor's probe launched in September.