Russ Zimmer

@RussZimmer

MIDDLETOWN - The township and three police supervisory officers are named as defendants in a lawsuit filed by a former officer, who is accusing his bosses of conspiring to harass him.

Savino Capilupi is suing Middletown, Sgt. Gerald Weimer, Sgt. Patricia Colangelo and Lt. Paul Bailey for civil rights violations, according to a complaint filed last month in U.S. District Court of New Jersey. He is seeking damages in excess of $10,000.

According to Capilupi:

In November 2008, Capilupi was in his third month of field training with Colangelo. During a meeting at the end of the month with the deputy chief, Colangelo — to Capilupi's surprise — said she did not believe he was ready to go out on the road alone. He disagreed and made his case to the deputy chief, who then sided with Capilupi. Colangelo, the lawsuit says, was "visibly upset" with the decision.

In March 2010, Capilupi called out sick for a severe headache. Bailey reprimanded him for using the sick day. Capilupi complained about Bailey's reaction to other superior officers, other patrolmen and his union, and that angered Bailey.

"From that point in time, Sgt. Bailey has singled out (Capilupi), to his detriment, as well as transferring his hostilities toward (Capilupi) to his close allies, Sgt. Weimer and Sgt. Colangelo, who were assigned as (Capilupi's) supervisors," the complaint reads.

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A pattern of harassment followed, according to the lawsuit, including "repeated abusive language, threats, taunts, inappropriate comments and unreasonable demands."

The mistreatment led to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, and his physician recommended that he no longer work as a police officer because of these medical conditions, the lawsuit says.

Capilupi drew no salary last year, but was still listed as an employee, according to 2015 payroll records obtained by the Asbury Park Press. He did not quit, according to the complaint, but he is also no longer receiving health benefits through the township.

He had been seeking ordinary disability benefits from the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, but that petition was denied in October. His request was retroactive to November 1, 2014. Capilupi is appealing the pension determination.

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The defendants, who were served two weeks ago, have until the end of the month to answer the allegations, according to the most recent court order.

Capilupi's attorney, Bill Koy, couldn't be reached for comment. The township did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Attempts to contact officers in the Middletown Township Policemen's Benevolent Association were unsuccessful.

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Russ Zimmer: 732-557-5748, razimmer@app.com