HILLSIDE -- A judge has overturned convictions on three traffic summonses the Hillside police union president gave to the same township's mayor last year amid a political battle over who would serve as the police chief.

Superior Court Judge Frederic McDaniel on Oct. 30 ruled Mayor Angela Garretson was not guilty of charges that she disregarded a police officer's hand signals, improperly passed other cars stopped at a construction work site and used a cell phone while driving.

Hillside Mayor Angela Garretson (NJ Advance Media file photo)

Garretson's lawyers have said police Officer Matthew Casterline issued her five tickets, two of which previously were thrown out, as political retribution for her attempts to demote then-Chief Louis Panarese.

"Whether or not the officer held a substantial grudge against the mayor for political reasons does not necessarily mean that he was not justified in issuing a summons," McDaniel wrote in his decision. "It might mean that he relished the opportunity to do so out of his contempt for her, which would indeed be unprofessional and even unbecoming a sworn law enforcement officer."

McDaniel wrote that Casterline previously had complained about the mayor enforcing a township ordinance against him, which was essentially the same thing he did in giving Garretson the tickets. The decision to accuse Garretson of harassment for enforcing a rule affects Casterline's credibility, the judge wrote.

He also said prosecutors had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Garretson had committed the violations.

"While it is perhaps quite shameful that the parties have acted in ways detrimental to the government and community they serve, it has little bearing on the guilt or innocence of the defendant," McDaniel wrote.

The summonses came after a July 12, 2015, incident in which Casterline was working an overtime assignment directing traffic around a construction site on Hillside Avenue, near Hilldale Place.

Casterline testified at trial in Union Township Municipal Court, where the case was transferred to avoid a conflict of interest, that Garretson drove her SUV around cars stopped for the construction work, ignored his hand signals to stop and then texted on her cell phone. The two spoke briefly, and Casterline issued the summonses the next day.

Municipal Court Judge Kelly A. Waters in March found Garretson guilty of disregarding an officer's hand signals, improperly passing the other cars and using a cellphone. Waters found Garretson not guilty of a charge of obstructing traffic, while a charge of driving through a safety zone previously had been dismissed.

Oleg Nekritin, one of two attorneys who represented Garretson, on Thursday said Garretson will not have to pay a $717 penalty imposed by Waters because the convictions were overturned. She also will not receive any points on her drivers license, Nekritin said.

Another attorney for Garretson, Robert De Groot, said Casterline had brought the traffic complaints against the mayor as an "opportunity to be the tail wagging the dog."

"They get to go in the municipal court and make baseless allegations against her by witnesses determined to be not credible and attempt to show the mayor that the police also have power and authority," De Groot said in a statement.

Garretson said the decision on appeal completely vindicated her and she was grateful for the support of residents who encouraged her to stand up to "the cycle of bullying" from Casterline and Panarese.

"The Superior Court judge relied on overwhelmingly credible portions of my testimony in his decision to overturn each of the tickets issued by Officer Casterline," Garretson said in a statement. "My credible testimony was bolstered by the professional manner in which I handled this matter in spite of the officer's intimidation tactics and the intense media scrutiny that I endured."

Garretson added that the result of her case would support reforms she brought to the police department by promoting Vincent Ricciardi, formerly a lieutenant, to the position of chief.

Panarese's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Garretson's remarks.

Panarese retired in August amid an ongoing legal controversy about whether he or Ricciardi would serve as the chief. Panarese and police Capt. Nicola Lomonte are separately suing Hillside, alleging they were illegally passed over for the department's top role.

Township attorney Farrah Irving declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Ricciardi, the police chief, said the department would conduct an internal affairs investigation around Casterline's issuance of the summonses.

A spokesman for the Union County Prosecutor's Office, which prosecuted the appeal, said his office respected McDaniel's decision. A woman who answered the phone at Union Municipal Court said they had not yet received official word of the decision and could not comment on it.

Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati or on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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