DOVER — Police Chief Harold "Butch" Valentine was caught on tape threatening an officer during a closed-door meeting this past July, an attorney investigating the matter reportedly told the Daily Record.

As reported by NJ Advance Media Thursday, Officer Timothy Thiel filed a lawsuit this summer alleging that several officers retaliated when he complained of ticket-fixing and of "stolen time" by other police officers.

His lawsuit targets several officials, including Valentine and Mayor James Dodd, and alleges a number of retaliatory acts— including harassing messages left on a dry-erase board, a transfer out of the police department's detective bureau, and a refusal by the department to provide backup quickly or at all during traffic stops and arrests.

John O'Reilly, a special prosecutor hired by the town to investigate the matter, told the Daily Record Thursday that Thiel had taped a July 8 session with the chief, and that "things got a little heated."

O'Reilly told the newspaper that Valentine said words to the effect of how he would kick Thiel's (buttocks) and Thiel reacted, asking the chief if he were issuing a threat. O'Reilly formerly worked as the Warren County prosecutor and as Morris County first assistant prosecutor.

As previously reported by NJ Advance Media, Thiel has alleged in his complaint that he was called to a meeting with Valentine and other police officials on July 8. Thiel says he was put in the corner of an interrogation room to intimidate him, and that Valentine "threatened (Thiel) with physical violence, told (Thiel) he was disrupting the department and mentioned that he heard (Thiel) complained of retaliation."

Initially, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office first looked into the matter and sent it to the town for its own review, prompting it to hire O'Reilly. O'Reilly told NJ Advance Media this week Dover sent Valentine a preliminary notice of disciplinary action — a required step before penalizing him — with the intent of suspending the chief for 10 days. Valentine has requested a hearing in response.

Valentine's alleged physical intimidation is among the latest challenges he's facing as police chief. Last week, the local police union voted "no confidence" in his leadership, the mayor confirmed.

Dodd said he was informed of the Dover Policemen's Benevolent Association vote by the town administrator, Donald Travisano. Travisano has not yet returned a message placed Friday seeking comment.

Dover PBA President James Pritchard declined to comment on the vote.

Dodd said he'd believe the internal problems facing the police department hadn't affected its ability to provide "protection or safety" to town residents.

"I don't think that was ever in question," the mayor said. "I do believe we have an excellent rank and file, and I don't think that they've been affected at all by this."

Dodd and Valentine's attorney, Marcy McCann, said the disciplinary hearing scheduled for Dec. 16 had been adjourned due to a discovery request. A new hearing date has not yet been rescheduled, they said.

McCann declined to comment on the "no confidence" vote, but said the chief intends to "vigorously defend" against the disciplinary charges.

Dodd said Valentine will remain in charge of "day-to-day operations" during the course of this disciplinary process.

Thiel's lawsuit was the first of two filed by Dover officers this summer. Sgt. Richard Gonzalez, like Thiel, alleges his rights as a whistleblower were violated by several officials when they notified authorities about the alleged ticket-fixing and stolen time.

Valentine long tenure as police chief has at times put him at odds with other town officials. In 2012, he publicly accused Dodd of asking him "participate in unlawful activities," but would not specify what those activities were. He has declined to comment on that allegation several times since, but two officials told the Star-Ledger at the time the prosecutor's office was investigating the alleged ticket-fixing.

Those allegations were detailed further in a January report by NJ.com, and then in the lawsuits later in the year.

Both lawsuits say Thiel conducted a traffic stop in November, 2011 in which the driver was a campaign worker for Dodd, and the passenger was Dover Alderwoman Carolyn Blackman. They allege Thiel was pressured not to write any tickets, but did so anyway — only to learn later they were dismissed without his knowledge or approval.

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office looked into that ticket dismissal and several others — but said in a letter to Dover authorities its inquiries "failed to produce sufficient evidence to prove a criminal act beyond a reasonable doubt."

The prosecutor's office did find what it called signs of "troubling activity" — including that some tickets were being filed as though they went to a non-existent "Courtroom 2," possibly to avoid notifying issuing officers. Dover has only one courtroom.

Also in 2012, the town hired Public Safety Director Rich Rosell over Valentine's objections, and the chief said he planed to sue the mayor in response. As of yet, no such lawsuit has been filed.

Valentine has not yet returned messages placed this week seeking comment.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

