A police officer in Old Bridge may be suspended or fired from his job for attempting to land a seat in the New Jersey Assembly, according to the officer's lawyer.

Tim Larsen, Governor's Office
NJ Assembly chamber (Tim Larsen, Governor's Office)
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Bob Brown, attorney for officer and candidate Robert Kurzydlowski, said a complaint has been filed by the township's Business Administrator, launching a "groundless misconduct investigation" because he is running as a member of the opposing party.

According to Brown, the complaint was filed specifically because Kurzydlowski, known in the town as Officer K, failed to receive permission from the county prosecutor.

"This has no ground because it was already decided in Morris County this past April that this kind of rule is unenforceable," Brown said.

Earlier this year, Dover Police Chief Harold Valentine had asked for permission from the prosecutor to run against the incumbent mayor in the primary election, but after the prosecutor refused to make a ruling either way, feeling there was no need for such a decision, Valentine was suspended with pay. A judge later reinstated him.

Brown said Officer K told the chief of police about his plans to run for a seat in the 12th district, and he received no backlash or additional rules to follow in order to make that happen.

When reached for comment, the business administrator would not discuss specific personnel matters and said any issues or complaints are forwarded to the police chief for review and/or follow-up action.

As of late Monday, the chief of police could not be reached. The prosecutor's office was closed for the holiday.

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