Cop suspended after alleged gun incident
BY JOHN DUNPHY
Staff Writer

EDISON - A township police officer has been suspended from his job after a volunteer first aid squad member said he pulled a gun during a May 24 tiff.

Patrolman Alan Farkas, 34, a five-year member of the department, could face at least a minimum of 18 months in jail if he is convicted of the fourth-degree crime, said Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Ronald Abramowitz.

Farkas was suspended last week after Richard Rivera, a volunteer with the township, alleged Farkas had pulled a firearm during a verbal altercation between the two while the officer was off-duty May 24, Abramowitz said.

"The complaint says there was a verbal altercation," he said. He noted that the complaint was signed by the internal affairs unit of the Edison Police Department.

"Given the nature and the severity of the allegations and the facts as was reported to me, [Police] Chief [George] Mieczkowski and I decided that it was severe enough such that the officer should be immediately suspended without pay and also arrested," said Mayor Jun Choi.

Farkas earns an annual salary of $78,258.

Steven Cahn, the attorney representing Farkas, said his client was across from the Clara Barton First Aid Squad building when the incident occurred.

"He was over at the body shop with some friends," Cahn said. "My guy didn't know this guy [Richard Rivera]."

The attorney said the men at the auto body shop were joking around with the men at the first aid squad building at the time, Cahn said.

"These guys were joking around. They were just making fun of each other; silly stuff that guys do," Cahn said. "Richard Rivera says that Alan Farkas pulled a gun on him, which he didn't do."

Cahn said it was dark at the auto body shop because it was already getting dark outside by 8:30 p.m., when the event is alleged to have occurred. Cahn also said some of the lights outside of the shop were broken. Those two things, he said, have led to a number of inconsistencies as to whether Farkas had pulled a gun.

"There was no argument, no fight," he said. "There was no reason for them to fight each other. They were far away from each other. I don't know what he saw. I have no idea."

Although Cahn said there were witnesses on the scene who have stated they did not see Farkas pull a weapon, the township still opted to suspend the officer. He was also arrested on charges of aggravated assault and released on $10,000 bail.

This arrest follows a growing list of arrests made within the ranks of the Edison Police Department and the second incident this year. Earlier this year, Lt. Joseph Vasta was suspended for five days by the department for having an unauthorized civilian in the front seat of his police car.

Officer Ioannis Mpletsakis is presently on trial in Dunellen court for an incident last year where he allegedly drove his vehicle while naked into the back of a box truck and then fled the scene.

Despite the incidents, the mayor said. "most police officers are good men and women who want to be professional, and want to see this department turn around."

"Of course I'm disappointed," Choi said. "But, our efforts to reform this police department are serious, are aggressive and are long-term in nature."

Choi said much of what has occurred of late derives from past systemic issues rooted in cronyism and lack of accountability within the department that have existed for decades.

"The solutions are not going to happen quickly," he said. "Most of the incidents, most of the press since my administration began were with lingering issues and ongoing cases before Chief Mieczkowski and myself began our service. We have set very high standards for accountability and discipline of all our police officers, on and off duty."

The matter will now be presented to a grand jury, Abramowitz said. While Farkas could ask to testify, he cannot be required to do so, he said.

Cahn said Farkas has not been in any trouble prior to this event.

"He's never been in any trouble," he said. "He's got a family. Now, he's been suspended. He's out of work. He's obviously upset; he's got a family to support. It's a nightmare."

Abramowitz said complaints had indicated the volunteer and the off-duty officer did not know each other, and had not been acquainted prior to last week's incident.

"Rivera, Farkas ... they probably wouldn't know each other if they were standing next to each other," Cahn said.