Did a police chief sworn to protect and serve ignore his superiors or was he just watching out for public safety?
That's the argument in Greenwich Township, New Jersey.
An administrative hearing started today for Chief Rich Hummer.
Hummer wanted his administrative hearing open to the public, but township officials would not allow any cameras in the meeting.
Then, officials tried to prove Hummer neglected his duties.
Standing room only in the Greenwich Township Municipal Building as the administrative hearing for Police Chief Rich Hummer got underway.
"Personally I think that the gentleman who's holding the hearing is a hand picked member from Mayor Tauriello and his councilmen and I think the verdict has already been chosen," said Greenwich Township resident, Paul Beam.
The whole ordeal started in 2014, after a former officer won a lawsuit and was reinstated to the force as part of the settlement.
According to a witness and now former Mayor Joseph Tauriello, township committee members didn't feel the officer needed full re-training after being off the force for over three years.
A recommendation Tauriello said he received from the New Jersey Police Training Commission.
Hummer wanted the officer to go through the police academy again before getting his badge back.
"I know the chief wanted him to go back through the training in the interest of his safety, the interest of the safety of the public and the huge liability if they just brought him back and threw him out on the road," said Jim McDonald, President of the Warren County Police Chiefs' Association.
Township officials said Hummer was insubordinate because he kept pushing for full training until a lawsuit was filed against him by the township by July.
Officials said the chief also did everything he could to delay putting the officer back on the force.
Things like delaying to re-enroll the officer in training classes, and ordering a custom bulletproof vest.
"The former mayor says they should have given him one off the shelf," added McDonald. "First of all there is no such thing as a vest off the shelf. And the reason why they are custom made is so there are no gaps that's for the officers safety."
The hearing was continued until next week.
Chief Hummer will testify at that time.
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