ELK COMMITTEE SUSPENDS TWO POLICE OFFICERS
Elk Township officials met at a Special Meeting last week (2/27) in closed session to discuss matters regarding police personnel. Formal action was taken by the Elk Township Committee to suspend two police officers.
The Mayor and Township Committee suspended Chief Charles DeFalco and Detective Steven Wojciechowski of the Elk Township police department with the intent to terminate. According to a statement released by the attorney for Elk Township, these actions are necessary due to serious deficiencies identified in a thorough investigation by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office concerning the managerial and detective functions of the Police Department.
In November 2017, former lieutenant Walter P. Garrison of the Elk Township Police Department, was charged by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office with official misconduct and theft in excess of $500, specifically by failing to be on duty during his assigned shifts and receiving wages for those hours between 11/16/16 and 8/23/17.
Appointed by Mayor and Committee, Lt. Steven Hughes will serve as the interim Officer-in-Charge for Elk Township Police Department pending the administrative review process.