New Jersey

N.J. mayor ‘weaponized’ internal affairs against police chief, lawsuit says

Published

1 year ago

October 31, 2024

N.J. mayor ‘weaponized’ internal affairs against police chief, lawsuit says

A police chief suspended from his duties in a Middlesex County borough filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the mayor and other officials, alleging harassment, retaliation, and violations of his rights.

Philip Corbisiero, the police chief of Spotswood, claims in court papers that Mayor Jacqueline Palmer, who took office in January 2021, has a pattern of interfering in police department matters.

The complaint states Palmer’s administration “weaponized” internal affairs procedures, creating a work environment where certain officers were reportedly penalized or pressured based on Palmer’s personal views.

Palmer and the attorneys representing the borough did not immediately respond to requests for comment made by phone and email.

The complaint, filed in state Superior Court in Middlesex County, seeks monetary damages, reinstatement and an end to what Corbisiero claims is a hostile work environment stemming from Palmer’s alleged interference with police department operations.

Corbisiero has served in the Spotswood Police Department since 1994 and became chief in April 2022.

He was suspended with pay in March after he was accused of incompetence and insubordination. A judge later dismissed the charges, according to mycentraljersey.com.

Corbisiero is asking for relief under the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act and the state’s Civil Rights Act. The chief seeks compensatory damages, reimbursement of legal fees, and other financial relief, including emotional distress damages.

Although no exact amount is specified, Corbisiero’s legal team claims the harassment and retaliation have severely impacted his mental and professional well-being.

Corbisiero claims Palmer has sought access to department facilities, security systems, and personnel files and has attempted to control departmental policy and officer promotions.

The suit details Palmer’s involvement in daily department operations, allegedly demanding access to police vehicles, radio frequencies, and confidential disciplinary records, among other resources typically reserved for law enforcement personnel.

The complaint also describes incidents involving Palmer’s alleged attempts to place favored officers in higher-ranking roles while circumventing standard promotion protocols.

Corbisiero claims these actions violated his statutory authority as chief under New Jersey law and created a work atmosphere where officers feared repercussions from Palmer.

Alleging that his objections to these actions were met with further retaliation, Corbisiero states he was unlawfully suspended and that his job responsibilities were reallocated to other personnel, which he contends has undermined his position.

He also claims that Palmer’s administration has not acted on his prior complaints and whistleblowing reports about alleged misconduct and abuse of authority by borough officials.

Corbisiero previously filed a Notice of Tort Claim in January, but the borough did not provide him relief, according to his lawsuit.

Corbisiero’s lawsuit comes after a series of legal disputes involving Spotswood officials, including other employees who have reportedly filed complaints against the borough in recent years.

The Spotswood Police Department employs about 23 to 25 sworn officers and serves this borough of around 8,000 residents.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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New Jersey

Devils Out to Rattle the Leafs | PREVIEW | New Jersey Devils

Published

4 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Devils Out to Rattle the Leafs | PREVIEW | New Jersey Devils

THE SCOOP

The Devils began their season-high seven-game homestand with a decisive victory over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. The win was their second consecutive victory after picking up a win in St. Louis earlier in the week.

There’s not a lot of runway left in the season, and stringing together a run of victories is at the top of their minds. New Jersey is 11 points out of the final Wild Card spot, and 13 out of third in the Metropolitan Division. Tuesday will mark the Devils final game before the NHL Trade Deadline, which is on Friday at 3 p.m.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are having a down year, based on where the expectations were set heading into the season. The Leafs have struggled to gain any traction in their season and sit just two points ahead of New Jersey with 64. Toronto is 12 points out of third in the Atlantic Division, and nine points out of a Wild Card spot.

The Leafs have a tendency to give up an abundance of shots to their opponents, ranking first in the league in shots against, per game with 31.8, which bodes will for a Devils team that averages 29.4 shots per game, ranking sixth in the league. Despite their overall struggles, the Leafs do have the league’s fourth-best penalty kill, working at an 83.1 percent efficiency.

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New Jersey

Former Lumberton, New Jersey, mayor Gina LaPlaca pleads guilty to 2025 DUI, sentenced to treatment program

Published

17 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Former Lumberton, New Jersey, mayor Gina LaPlaca pleads guilty to 2025 DUI, sentenced to treatment program

A former mayor in Burlington County, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to DUI and child endangerment charges after a 2025 traffic stop, according to prosecutors.

Lumberton Township committee member Gina LaPlaca, 46, was indicted last spring on child abuse charges after county prosecutors said she was observed driving drunk with her young child in the car, while serving as the township mayor.

Police arrested her at her home after reviewing video from a witness showing her swerving out of her lane and nearly hitting a utility pole. Lumberton police discovered her blood alcohol concentration was .30%, over three times the legal limit of .08%.

On Monday, LaPlaca was sentenced to three years in a diversionary program for first-time offenders after pleading guilty to driving under the influence and a fourth-degree child abuse charge. As part of the plea deal, LaPlaca will avoid jail time as long as she abides by the terms of the program.

Under the terms of the Pretrial Intervention or PTI program, she must attend regular Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and comply with any requirements set by the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency.

Judge Craig A. Ambrose also ordered LaPlaca to have an ignition lock device on her car that will prevent it from starting up if the driver has consumed alcohol. She said in court she had already installed one in October 2025, the county prosecutor’s office said.

If LaPlaca violates the terms of the PTI program, she could be prosecuted for the child abuse charge.

LaPlaca completed an intensive treatment program in May 2025 and said in a statement that she is “fully committed to my recovery” and is doing the “daily, intentional work” that comes with it. She apologized to Lumberton residents while acknowledging a private struggle with alcohol addiction that was no longer private.

“The weight of my actions is something I carry deeply,” she said in a statement shared on social media. “What I did was wrong. It was dangerous. It was inexcusable. I drove while intoxicated with my child in the car — a choice that could have caused irreversible harm. That reality is something I will live with, and learn from, for the rest of my life.”

LaPlaca served as mayor through 2025 but remains on the township committee. Terrance Benson was sworn in as mayor of Lumberton this year.

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New Jersey

Newark-bound United flight returns to LA airport for evacuation after reported fire

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Newark-bound United flight returns to LA airport for evacuation after reported fire

NEWARK, New Jersey — A United Airlines flight headed to Newark, New Jersey returned to the Los Angeles airport Monday about 40 minutes after taking off for an emergency evacuation after a reported fire, authorities said.

All flights at the LAX International Airport were ordered to remain on the ground for about half an hour during the flight’s return and evacuation, according to advisories from the Federal Aviation Administration. No injuries were reported.

The flight, which was en route to Newark Liberty International Airport returned to LAX to address an issue with one of the engines, the airline said in a statement. There was no mention of a fire, but the LA Fire Department said it responded and there was a fire that was contained as of an hour after the plane’s landing.

The flight took off at 10:43 a.m., began to turn around at about 11 a.m. and landed again at 11:19 a.m., according to flight tracker FlightAware.

The LA Fire Department said they assisted with the evacuation of more than 250 passengers and crew. Passengers exited the plane on the taxiway using slides and stairs and were taken to the terminal, the airline said.

The airplane was a Boeing 787-9, a variant of the popular line of 787 Dreamliner long-haul aircraft.

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