Suspended Cop Chief denied reinstatement... | December 25th, 1988 | Charles Cobbertt

A judge in Newark has denied suspended Orange Police Chief Robert Sorge's request to be reinstated while awaiting a hearing on charges of bribery, insubordination and conduct unbecoming a police officer.

Supperior Court Judge Paul B. Thompson turned down both of Sorge's requests on Friday and denied the chief's request to name an acting chief to run the department while he awaits disposition of the charges filed against him Monday.

"There's absolutely no basis for these allegations," argued Jerome Convery, Sorge's attorney, referring to the chief being accused of using an Orange auto repair shop's license plates on his private car between July 25 and October.

Sorge "unlawfully borrowed (license) plates from a car dealer in town." It is "highly likely he conspired with a city businessman and personal friend of his" to get the plates, and he failed to even register the car with the state Department of Motor Vehicles until recently, countered Robert Westreich, a Morristown attorney who represents the city of Orange.

Sorge has 25 years of law enforcement experience and is president of the Essex County Police Chiefs Association.

Judge Thompson said the departmental charges against Sorge appear to be too serious to just summarily dismiss them and allow the police chief to return to his job.

Police Director Charles Cobbertt, who filed the charges, and Mayor Robert L. Brown are trying "to get complete control of the police department by getting my client out of the (police) building," Convery charged.

"This suspension is a subterfuge to get him to circumvent the court's (Sept. 20) restraining order" against Cobbertt and Brown, that sought to protect Sorge's "rights and duties as the chief of police," the defense attorney added. "They don't care how much they hurt this man."

According to Convery, the tactics Cobbertt and Brown are using represent "sandbagging of the worst level by the city of Orange."

In September, Sorge complained that he had been the object of "political interference in the workplace and political harrassment" by Cobbertt and Brown since July.

Brown became mayor July 1 and appointed Cobbertt as Sorge's boss four days later.

Stephen Shaw, an attorney representing the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police, argued Friday that Cobbertt's suspending Sorge in the absence of filing any criminal complaint was "an extraordinary step."

Judge Thompson reasoned that Sorge's suspension, and the departmental charges against him, put matters regarding his Sept. 20 restraining order against Orange in a different light.

"I can't interfere with an adiministrative (departmental charge) function," the judge said, "especially when there's the allegation" of a motor vehicle violation.

Cobbertt, in certified complaint submitted to the court, said it was "evident Mr. Sorge violated a variety of laws, flaunted his violations in front of the entire (police) department, participated in and condoned violations by others and accepted a gratuity from persons doing business with the city."

"It appears that Mario's Auto Shop permitted its dealer plates to be used on a vehicle that it did not own," Cobbertt's affidavit said. "It also appears that Mr. Sorge knew of and participated in this motor vehicle violation and failed to issue a summons or take other law enforcement action, despite his duty to do so.

"The department has additionally learned that although (Sorge) began using the vehicle in July and presumably purchased it at that time," the affidavit continued, "he did not record (the) title to it until Aug. 19 and did not register it prior to using it," violations of state law.

Thompson, in response to Sorge's request to have Capt. Richard Conte become acting Chief, as opposed to Cobbertt's selection of Capt. Anthony Benevento, said, "Once (a) chief is suspended, he has no powers."