AVALON – Former Police Sgt. Stephen Bowers has filed suit against the borough, claiming he was not guilty of department charges filed against him.
Bowers was terminated in May after an investigation and hearing on charges of five violations of department procedure or common law.
He was charged with leaving his post or patrol without just cause, not properly patrolling his post, violating internal affairs confidentiality rules, violating regulations on truthfulness and conduct unbecoming a police officer.
Bowers, who joined the department in 2011, claims that the charges were not proven by a predominance of the evidence, that he is not guilty of the violations, and that the penalty was “unjustified and excessively harsh.”
He asks the court to declare the order of termination illegal, to order the borough to pay all back pay and benefits lost because of the termination, and to have the borough cover the legal fees and expenses of the suit.
In a response to the litigation, the borough filed a reply in which it stated that Bowers is not entitled to relief. The borough’s filing outlined the charges and reasons leading to the dismissal. Avalon requests that it be awarded reasonable legal fees and associated costs.
A case management conference has been scheduled for July 24 before Judge M. Susan Sheppard.
Indictments Filed Sept. 16
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