The Courier - January 31, 2008

1 disgruntled retiree = 14 tickets for township?

By J.J. SULLIVAN III
Staff Writer

    The condition of township police vehicles has recently come under scrutiny after a 20-year veteran ticketed 14 municipal vehicles as he left the department to begin retirement.
    According to tickets issued by township officer Frank Holden on Dec. 31, 2007, 14 vehicles registered to the municipality had invalid inspection stickers. Middletown traffic code states expired inspection stickers carry a $130 fine.
    Holden, now retired, issued the tickets during his last day on the job, citing 11 police cars and three municipal vehicles. All of the ticketed vehicles were allegedly parked outside of Town Hall, 1 Kings Highway.
    Chief of Police Robert Oches said Holden stopped by his office at 6:15 a.m., five minutes before he issued the first ticket. "[Holden] only asked questions pertaining to his terminal leave and his retirement badge," he said. The chief said he was surprised when he first learned of the tickets. "When he popped his head in my office, I thought there were no problems," Oches said.
    A municipal vehicle reputedly ticketed by Holden was in a township garage for eight days, according to the police chief. "I do not know how was able to ticket that particular vehicle," Oches said. The chief asserted the retired officer falsely swore to at least one of the tickets.
    Oches said a vehicle allegedly ticketed at Town Hall by Holden was in a different location on Dec. 31, 2007, when the citations were issued. "[Holden] specified [in the tickets] on Dec. 31, 2007, at 6:20 a.m., certain vehicles were parked in the Town Hall parking lot, when I know that to be incorrect," Oches asserted. He said this fact made it impossible for anyone to ticket the vehicle on the date and time listed on the summons.
    "Whether or not it was done for personal reasons will be resolved at the appropriate place and time," Township Attorney Bernard Reilly said at the Jan. 22 Township Committee meeting. Reilly stated police vehicles were properly maintained.
    Proper departmental procedure dictates that officers complete specific forms when needing automotive maintenance or repair, according to Oches. "Holden failed to avail to the proper procedures," Oches said. "If Holden had any concerns about bringing this information to his superiors, he should have notified [the chief of police] personally."
    Instead, police allege Holden averted designated channels, showing a disregard for departmental standards of conduct. Oches called Holden's actions a blatant departure from appropriate procedures. "Holden knew he was engaged in questionable conduct and chose to leave in stealth. Instead of handing the tickets to Deputy Chief Braun, [Holden] walked the tickets directly to the Township Clerk [Heidi Abs]," he said. The way Holden "snuck out the door" raised questions concerning the retired officer's credibility, according to Oches.
    The police chief refused to speculate on whether Holden was motivated by a personal grudge. "As the chief of police, I am forced to make difficult, unpopular decisions," Oches said. Regardless of a potential vendetta, Holden should have reported the violations through• the proper channels, Oches said.
    The Township Committee recently approved the purchase of 16 new police vehicles for $319,000. An annuity from the Monmouth County Improvement Authority (MCIA), approved in 2007, will account for $200,000 of the cost.
    During the Jan. 22 meeting, Oches discussed the necessity of the purchase. "The department is supposed to buy eight cars a year. Last year, we didn't buy any. I do not want to receive two years worth of cars at the same time, but I have no choice," Oches said.
    Oches explained to the committee that the poor condition of police vehicles was a popular topic of discussion among officers.
    "Some of the current police vehicles have between 150,000 to 200,000 miles on them," Oches said at the meeting. According to officials, the new vehicles will not arrive for another 12 to 14 weeks.
"Just because [Holden: wrote summonses on his way out the door does not necessarily mean the tickets were warranted," Reilly said. The township attorney mentioned the potential of Holden "being bitter" about something, but refused to elaborate beyond the hypothetical.
Due to conflicts of interest, the current court date will be rescheduled for a different venue, Reilly said. "The issue will be adjudicated at the right place in the right forum," he concluded.
Attempts to contact Holden by Courier staff were unsuccessful.