PALISADES PARK — A borough police officer who was arrested twice for alleged narcotics possession has been kicked off the force for refusing to take a drug test.

Richard Giacobone, 41, of Fort Lee had been suspended without pay since November 2017, after officers from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and Fort Lee raided his Summit Avenue home. Police allegedly found anabolic steroids, cocaine, marijuana and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

Afterward, a urine test was mandated under the terms of his employment, but Giacobone did not comply.

"Giacobone refused the mandated test even though advised that said refusal has the same penalty as a positive test result," the resolution on his termination said. He was officially fired effective Sept. 24.

The urine test is required under the borough's policies and under the New Jersey attorney general's Revised Drug Testing Police-AG directive.

While suspended, Giacobone was arrested a second time, in December 2018, by Fort Lee police after a motor vehicle stop. He was charged with one count of cocaine possession, two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the form of several types of pills and one count of drug paraphernalia.

A Superior Court judge dismissed the charges from the first arrest in August, court officials said.

His termination "had nothing to do with any of the arrests, because you are innocent until proven guilty," said David Lorenzo, borough administrator. "It had to do with the violation of the attorney general guidelines."

Lorenzo and Police Chief Mark Jackson recommended that Giacobone be terminated from his position effective immediately.

Giacobone requested a hearing before the governing body on Aug. 27, which was adjourned at his request on Sept. 24.

The council approved his termination at the Sept. 24 council meeting based upon the testimony of witnesses and documents reviewed pertaining to the drug test refusal.

Giacobone is the second police officer to be fired in the last two years.

Last summer, probationary Officer Robert DeVito was fired, with officials citing two pending internal affairs investigations.

DeVito, who is gay, is suing the borough claiming he was fired after he lodged complaints against a councilman. The suit claims discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination.

Kristie Cattafi is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: cattafi@northjersey.com Twitter: @KristieCattafi

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