Hearing Set For Sarraf

MULLICA TOWNSHIP _ The veteran police officer who may lose his job and significant pension benefits because of medical conditions that prevent him from working overnight will get an administrative hearing soon, according to township officials.

Paul “P.J.” Sarraf was suspended with pay by Chief John Thompson Sept. 17, "with the intent to dismiss," said his wife Barbara Saraff. She and about two dozen supporters of her husband attended a township committee meeting wearing #teampj tee shirts.

But elected officials said they cannot comment on personnel matters, other than to say the township has hired an administrative hearing officer who will be fair to all.

A hearing was set for Oct. 12, but both sides said the date may change because of conflicts with participants' schedules.

Saraff has been a police officer here for about 19 years, said his wife, and does not qualify for medical disability. His doctors tell him he can do all aspects of the job from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Barbara Saraff said.

He has been diagnosed with sleep apnea and other conditions, she said.

Her husband has been advised by his Police Benevolent Association attorney not to comment publicly, she said.

Thompson had told him his need to work day shifts cannot be accommodated, Barbara Sarraf said in June. At that time her husband's supporters packed another committee meeting, demanding the township accommodate him.

Sarraf will file an American Disabilities Act claim, Barbara Sarraf said.

Sarraf had recently been working day shift until his suspension, she said.

Barbara Sarraf said her husband trained to be a police officer in Florida and was taught how to capture and handle alligators.

Just a day after his suspension, she said, an alligator was spotted and videoed in the township on Hamburg Avenue. It was a situation he could have helped with, she said.

Many speakers at the June meeting said they felt the problem was personal animosity between Thompson, who did not attend either meeting, and Sarraf.

Both men live and work in the township.

Barbara Sarraf said her husband will only get back what he paid into the pension system if he loses his job before 20 years on the job. If he works for 20 years, he can collect 50 percent of his pension payments upon retirement, but no health benefits. Only if he works for 25 years can he collect his full retirement and get medical benefits, she said.

Community response is reminiscent of that in support of tenured Mullica Township Elementary School kindergarten teacher Kelly Mascio in 2013 and 2014, when the Board of Education moved to take away her tenure and fire her after two 5-year-olds said they had engaged in sexual play in her classroom bathroom.

Mascio got a great deal of support from other teachers and from members of the community. She also lives in the township.

In June of 2014, state Arbitrator Daniel F. Brent ruled Mascio should not lose her job or tenure and was entitled to almost all of her back pay lost to unpaid suspension.

The township has 13 uniformed officers, according to its website, including seven patrol officers, a corporal, a sergeant, a captain, a matron, a detective and the chief. Support staff include a secretary and a technical coordinator. However, there has been at least one officer resignation since the data was posted.

https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/suspended-mullica-cop-with-sleep-apnea-to-get-hearing/article_3938bcae-ffcc-5e6c-965a-c306e097329e.html