Closed hearings for both should come within a month.
By: Al Wicklund
JAMESBURG Two members of the Jamesburg Police Department await the setting of hearing dates on unspecified departmental disciplinary charges.
Closed hearings for both should be within less than a month, Borough Attorney Frederick Raffetto said Thursday.
Mr. Raffetto said the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office has completed investigations of allegations of misconduct by Patrolman Louis Hornberger and dispatcher and Special Police Officer Todd Fisher.
He declined comment on whether the charges against the men were related.
Patrolman Hornberger was suspended with pay Oct. 16 and Mr. Fisher was suspended without pay in June, Mr. Raffetto said.
Mr. Raffetto would not comment on what the allegations entailed to protect the confidentiality of the two men.
He said the hearings for both men will be conducted by hearing officers from outside the community.
Mr. Raffetto said that under borough and department regulations, the allegations against the patrolman could be heard by the mayor and Borough Council or an outside hearing officer, while the charges against the dispatcher could be heard by the chief of police or an outsider.
"In the interest of fairness and impartiality, Chief (David) Lester and the mayor and council chose to have the hearings handled by independent outsiders who have no ties to the community," he said.
Mr. Raffetto said both men will have legal representation and will have the opportunity to refute the allegations.
"The hearing officers will make recommendations that may include dismissal or validation of the charges and appropriate further action," he said.
He said a hearing must set for a date within 30 days of Oct. 16 for Patrolman Hornberger and Oct. 12 for Mr. Fisher. The dates are those of the formal presentation of charges following the completion of investigations by the prosecutor’s office, he said.

