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Residents Press Clark Township Council Over Attorney General Review and New Civil‑Rights Lawsuit
Summary
Residents at the Feb. 2 Clark Township Council meeting urged the council to acknowledge findings from a prior Attorney General review and a new civil‑rights lawsuit alleging flaws in the Clark Police Department’s internal‑affairs practices; the mayor and administration pledged limited comment because of pending litigation.
John Griese, a Clark resident, used the council’s public‑comment period on Feb. 2 to press elected officials on a recent civil‑rights lawsuit and earlier Attorney General findings he said the council had minimized.
"The investigation into CPD revealed a complete breakdown in their leadership's oversight and abuse of the internal affairs function," Griese said, quoting language from the 2023 Attorney General review and arguing the council had selectively cited the report to downplay persistent problems.
Why it matters: Griese and other residents said the Attorney General’s review and Union County Prosecutor Office (UCPO) work show systemic weaknesses in how stops and internal‑affairs records were documented — including missing or untagged video footage — which they said undercuts public confidence in local oversight. Mary Semler described two traffic stops of her mother’s aide that she said left her elderly mother in jeopardy and urged the council to consider accountability when contracts for top police management are reviewed.
Mayor Albanese responded that the township is "working to address the complaint" but declined to elaborate because of pending litigation. He also clarified that Director Grady "is a civilian. He's not a police officer," presenting the appointment as an administrative command choice.
Business Administrator Jim told the council that the UCPO and Attorney General had access to the videos and "were satisfied by reviewing 40 that there was no issue," adding that older records' omission of race in stop data reflected historical reporting requirements rather than deliberate concealment.
Council response and context: Several council members urged residents to allow the legal process to proceed. Council Member Hoff asked the public to focus on town progress and positive community work, while Council Member Hunt echoed the mayor's caution about discussing active litigation at council meetings.
What's next: Council members did not vote on any motion related to the lawsuit at the meeting. Multiple residents urged that the Township treat the issue as a matter of institutional change and to consider leadership review when renewal of the police‑director contract arises.
Ending: Council took no formal action on policing policy or personnel at the Feb. 2 meeting; Mayor Albanese and staff said further public comment would be limited because of pending legal proceedings.
