Officer's lawsuit divides township

More than 100 people attended a Franklin Township meeting Wednesday night, some to express support for a township police officer, and others to defend the police director who has brought administrative charges against him.

Many in the audience were police officers, who came from all over Hunterdon County to stand by Officer Hatem "Tim" Wahba.

Members of the township committee listened to the comments but did not respond. Mayor Robert Shockley said they could not discuss the issue because it is a personnel matter.

Wahba was initially investigated in 2007 by Public Safety Director Ken Mandoli and the township because he hadn't written any motor vehicle summonses in two months, according to documents. It was later discovered that some of Wahba's activity logs were missing, and he was docked one day's pay.

He appealed to the state Public Employment Relations Commission.

In June 2008, PERC found that the township's investigation was "biased and tainted, in order to manufacture charges." The ruling said that "the security and integrity of the reports are the responsibility of the Township, and not of the employees. Since no supervisor monitored the submission and safekeeping of the reports, when and how they came up missing cannot be determined."

Wahba, who is of Egyptian descent, is suing Franklin Township, members of the township committee and Mandoli, claiming racial discrimination.

After Wahba's lawsuit was filed, the township opened a second investigation into his job performance.

Friends of the officer asked that this investigation be transferred to a third party arbiter, such as PERC, instead of the judge chosen by the township.

"This person wants a hearing through PERC, someone who's objective," said Jim Crilly, a representative from PBA Local 188 and a Pohatcong police officer. "That's a fair way to do it. I don't know why the township doesn't want to do it that way."

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