Hearing set on allegations
against police dispatcher
Jamesburg officer
accused of improperly touching female juvenile
PHOTOS BY FARRAH MAFFAI After lighting the Christmas tree in South River last Friday, Santa Claus hands a candy cane to a fascinated Jake Boyd, 2 (above). With her nose lighting up, Renee Fowler, 5, (below) chats with friends at Daily’s Pond Park in South River at the borough’s tree-lighting ceremony.
JAMESBURG — A disciplinary hearing on allegations of misconduct by a special officer with the borough’s police department is scheduled to be held in the borough Dec. 19.
Todd Fisher, a dispatcher, was suspended without pay in June following allegations that he touched a female juvenile while he was on duty. The special officer could be fired or brought up on criminal charges at the hearing, according to his attorney, Steve Altman.
"Fisher was working as a dispatcher, and the young lady was permitted in the dispatch area without authorization," Altman said. "Fisher was accused of horsing around with her [by giving her] a kiss and a pat on the butt."
Altman said that one possible outcome of the hearing may be Fisher’s dismissal from the department. Borough officials chose to conduct a hearing on the matter after they received a report in October from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, which first investigated the allegations against Fisher.
"We’re letting the professionals handle it," Borough Attorney Frederick Raffetto said, referring to an outside mediator hired by the borough to preside over Fisher’s case. Municipal Court Judge Richard Thompson of Monmouth County will preside over the hearing. According to Raffetto, two attorneys from his law firm will represent the borough in the matter.
Raffetto also said that if the alleged victim in the case decides to pursue the matter, Fisher, who is 28, could face criminal charges.
"This is not a criminal thing," Raffetto said about the upcoming hearing. "It’s a proceeding about [whether or not Fisher will keep] his job. The criminal charges would be something the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office would deal with."
If a criminal complaint is filed by the victim, Altman said that Fisher could face charges that might include impairing the morals of a minor, criminal sexual conduct and disorderly persons offenses. Altman maintained, however, that it is unlikely the victim would file charges.
"Fisher’s known her since she was a kid," Altman said. "He’s known the family and her. It’s not uncommon for them to horse around."
Altman also said that, in addition to being a friend of Fisher’s, the alleged victim is a regular visitor at the police station.
In an unrelated matter, Jamesburg Patrolman Louis Hornberger, 31, was suspended with pay in October. A hearing took place Nov. 12, and borough officials are awaiting a mediator’s final report. James Mastriani, who presided over Hornberger’s hearing, will make a recommendation as to whether or not Hornberger’s alleged actions merit dismissal.
"We’re not privileged to the information yet," Raffetto said about the final report on Hornberger. "When the mediator finishes his report, it has to come to the Borough Council. Then we go on his recommendations in his report."
A third hearing involving Jamesburg Police Chief David Lester is expected to take place once Fisher’s hearing is completed, according to Fisher’s attorney.
According to Altman, Lester also faces disciplinary charges in part because he allegedly did not inform Mayor Tony LaMantia about the allegations regarding Fisher in a timely manner.
"The chief has been brought up on disciplinary charges because he didn’t act on [the allegations from the female juvenile] when it was first brought to his attention," Altman said. "That’s ridiculous. It took him (the chief) three to four days to conduct all the interviews with the people involved. Then he asked the prosecutor’s office to investigate the incident."
"It’s costing everyone a lot of money and a lot of aggravation," Altman said about the hearings for all the police officers. "Of all the things going on in the world, who cares about this?"


