The City Council is expected to make a decision April 4 on whether Sgt. Michael O’Rourke is guilty of insubordination.
By: Linda Seida
LAMBERTVILLE When a Lambertville police sergeant’s disciplinary hearing for insubordination reconvenes next week, the mayor and City Council will hand down a verdict and, if they find him guilty, they also will announce his punishment.
The hearing for Sgt. 1st Class Michael O’Rourke will continue April 4 at 6 p.m. at the Justice Center on South Union Street.
If he is found guilty, Sgt. O’Rourke could face suspension, demotion or dismissal from the force.
A member of the city’s police force since 1989, Sgt. O’Rourke is accused of disobeying an order to refrain from conducting background checks on five of the department’s civilian employees, including his boss, Police Director Bruce Cocuzza.
The attorneys for both sides are expected to submit written summations by 4 p.m. Friday, March 30. Mayor David Del Vecchio and members of the council then will review them.
When the hearing resumes, it is expected the mayor and council will enter into a closed session to deliberate. When they emerge from the private session, it is expected they will announce their verdict. If the verdict is guilty, they also will announce the punishment.
If the city’s governing body finds Sgt. O’Rourke guilty, he may appeal to the Superior Court in Flemington. If that court also rules against him, he can bring his case to the Superior Court Appellate Division.
Sgt. O’Rourke has testified he did not need authorization from Mr. Cocuzza to perform the background checks. He said he performed the checks to ensure the security of federal and state crime and information databases.
Mr. Cocuzza has testified Sgt. O’Rourke disobeyed a direct order to refrain from performing the checks until it could be ascertained if such investigations were legal and would not expose the city to liability. The checks normally are performed within 30 days of a new hire, but the persons investigated by Sgt. O’Rourke were longtime employees, one of whom had been with the department 15 years.

