TRENTON — Facing a lengthy list of offenses including "creating a disturbance on state property'' and "notoriously disgraceful conduct,'' Long-time Human Services Police Chief Raymond J. Brennan today was suspended without pay, state spokeswoman Ellen Lovejoy said. Top Human Services officials also began proceedings to fire Brennan, Lovejoy said. The suspension comes at a time of turmoil in the...
Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez suspended longtime Human Services Police Chief Raymond J. Brennan last week with pay. Today he was suspended without pay and faces possible termination.TRENTON — Facing a lengthy list of offenses including "creating a disturbance on state property'' and "notoriously disgraceful conduct,'' Long-time Human Services Police Chief Raymond J. Brennan today was suspended without pay, state spokeswoman Ellen Lovejoy said.
Top Human Services officials also began proceedings to fire Brennan, Lovejoy said.
The suspension comes at a time of turmoil in the upper ranks of the 107-member police force, responsible for accompanying child welfare workers in the field and patrolling the grounds of state psychiatric hospitals and developmental centers. Capt. Brian Brady, 49, of Sparta, the third-highest ranking official in the Human Services police, was arrested Tuesday and charged with faking time sheets and misusing police databases.
The department charged Brennan, 84, of Manasquan, with two counts of neglect of duty; two counts of insubordination; "fighting or creating a disturbance on state property;'' "notoriously disgraceful conduct;'' "violation of a rule, regulation, policy, procedure or order;'' and conduct unbecoming a public employee, Lovejoy said.
Some of the charges stem from the chief's refusal to get firearms recertification, which is required of all officers, Lovejoy confirmed. She did not immediately comment on the basis for the other offenses.
Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez suspended Brennan last week with pay, and declined to reveal the allegations against him until they were aired at an internal hearing. That hearing took place today. He did not attend, Lovejoy said.
Brennan has been chief since 1985.
In 2002, he filed an age discrimination lawsuit against the department, which had disciplined him for failing to report an employee's racial discrimination charge. A judge dismissed the case in 2005, and the dismissal was upheld on appeal in 2009, according to court records.
Brennan did not immediately return a call made to his home.
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