Dover seeks to discipline Police Chief Harold Valentine

DOVER The town of Dover wants to suspend long-time Police Chief Harold "Butch" Valentine for 10 days for allegedly threatening Officer Timothy Thiel this past July.

Valentine's attorney, Marcy McMann, said that town Administrator Don Travisano last week served Valentine with a preliminary notice of disciplinary action that alleged he threatened Thiel on July 8. The actions allegedly occurred during a private meeting attended by Valentine, the department's two lieutenants, and Thiel.

Travisano declined comment Wednesday, telling the Daily Record that he does not comment on any personnel issues. He would not discuss any aspect of the disciplinary notice that McMann said was served on her client.

Before the notice was issued, the town hired attorney John O'Reilly to investigate the alleged matter and interview potential witnesses and he prepared a report for the town. O'Reilly, the former Warren County Prosecutor and First Assistant Prosecutor in Morris County, was not available for comment Wednesday at his private practice in Parsippany.

McMann said the next steps include collecting discovery on the case and preparing for a hearing. In the meantime, she said, Valentine remains the police chief.

"The chief plans to vigorously defend the charge and remains chief while the disciplinary charges are pending," McMann said.

Valentine said he believes the charges are politically-based and being pursued by town officials who want him to retire. He said the suspension would cost him about $5,000.

McMann said she anticipates that O'Reilly would act as a prosecutor on behalf of the town and evidence would be presented to a neutral hearing officer at a closed proceeding. The hearing officer, after hearing all evidence and testimony, would make findings. It was not immediately clear Wednesday who -- the town administrator or board of aldermen -- would ultimately decide whether punishment would be meted out if a decision went against Valentine.

Thiel, a 10-year officer in Dover, filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the town and department in July, claiming he was stripped of his detective's position and targeted for retaliation because he complained of fellow officers "stealing time" and other alleged offenses.

One allegation in Thiel's lawsuit is that Valentine threatened him with physical violence and tried to intimidate him on July 8 during a closed-door meeting.

"The meeting was held in a police department interrogation room and plaintiff (Thiel) was placed in the corner of the room thereby creating an atmosphere of intimidation. During the meeting, the chief of police threatened plaintiff with physical violence, told plaintiff he was disrupting the department and mentioned that he heard plaintiff complained of retaliation," Thiel's lawsuit said.

The complaint stated that Thiel then notified Richard Rosell, the town's public safety director to whom the police chief reports. Thiel alerted Rosell that he believed Valentine's actions were retaliatory in connection with his protected activities of complaining of alleged misconduct, the suit said.

Thiel's lawsuit was followed by a complaint filed in August by Sgt. Richard Gonzalez, who alleged that his First Amendment rights were violated and his complaints about deficiencies and possible misconduct in the detective bureau were being ignored.

Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@njpressmedia.com