Criminal Charges Dismissed Against Lawrence Cop

A Lawrence Township police officer who has been suspended from duty for over a year will return to work this week following the dismissal of criminal charges that had been filed against him in early 2010.

Officer Todd Sparks, 43, is scheduled to report back to duty on Friday, according to his attorney, Stuart Alterman.

Sparks, a member of the township police force for more than 15 years, was suspended after he was charged in January 2010 with attempted theft by deception and a related offense. Authorities from the Mercer County Prosecutors Office at the time alleged that Sparks fraudulently tried to obtain a reimbursement of $250 from the township for eyeglasses.

Those charges against Sparks were formally dismissed Tuesday (April 26) by Mercer County Superior Court Judge Edward M. Neafsey, acting upon a recommendation from the county prosecutor’s office.

“We believed that our client was innocent, that he did absolutely nothing wrong, and that these charges were specious,” Alterman said. “I think there is a pattern of retaliation [in the Lawrence Township Police Department] that permeates through different matters including but not limited to their last attempt to indict and convict my client.”

Alterman’s comments about retaliation were a reference to earlier charges that were brought against Sparks in October 2008 alleging that, while acting in his capacity as a delegate of Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association Local 119, he stole as much as $8,000 from the union. He was indicted and remained suspended until October 2009 when those charges against him were dismissed once bookkeeping records surfaced that exonerated him.

“Our next step is to begin the process so that our client can be made whole,” Alterman said. “Quite frankly it's difficult when you’re in foreclosure, you’re behind on all your bills and the world it crashing down all around you. Being made whole doesn’t happen with the wave of a magic wand.”

Casey DeBlasio, spokeswoman for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, explained the reasons behind the decision to drop the charges against Sparks.

“Many factors played into our decision to recommend the dismissal of the indictment. Chief among them was one of our main witnesses made inconsistent statements and kept incomplete business records,” she said. “Additionally, it appeared that the case would not see a trial date for at least many months, possibly a year to come.”

DeBlasio noted, however, that “dismissal of the indictment should in no way be interpreted as this officer did nothing wrong.”

“The police department has an alternate remedy in that it may pursue administrative charges against the officer.  Ultimately, whether the matter is treated administratively or criminally, he is still facing the potential loss of his job, which is the desired outcome,” she said. “We are confident that serious administrative charges will be leveled against him in the very near future.”

DeBlasio added, “Any claim that the police department is inappropriately targeting this officer is utter nonsense.”

Lawrence Township Police Chief Daniel Posluszny Tuesday evening said he could not comment on Sparks’ return to the department because it was a personnel matter and, as such, cannot be publicly discussed.