UPDATE: Cop promoted after suspension for visiting woman in undercover car

PERTH AMBOY -- A city cop was suspended and gave up part of a paycheck after an investigation showed that he took an undercover police vehicle to visit his romantic partner in Woodbridge while he was supposed to be working.

Sgt. Carmelo Jimenez has already served his eight-day suspension and repaid 27 hours of pay to the city for taking the car out of town during work hours, his legal representative said.

"He took a hit," said Tony Fusco, a lawyer for the Fraternal Order of Police in Perth Amboy. "You're talking about a guy with 17 years on the job, he's into his 18th year, and he's a good cop. And that's the end of it."

The trips to Woodbridge came to light after an internal affairs complaint filed by local attorney Daniel Gonzalez. Jimenez has investigated or arrested some of Gonzalez's clients in his time helping run the city's narcotics squad.

Gonzalez, who lives and works in the city, began investigating Jimenez in early 2014, when he got word that Jimenez was leaving the city during working hours.

Among other steps, Gonzalez hired a private investigator to film Jimenez, and got access to security surveillance footage nearby. The videos show the undercover vehicle sitting for hours on a Woodbridge street after Jimenez got out, sometimes carrying flowers or food. (Fusco said that the residence was near the Perth Amboy border.)

"I would imagine that our law abiding taxpayers in Perth Amboy would be extremely upset with their tax dollars being spent like this," Gonzalez said.

The issue is all the more sensitive in Perth Amboy given the arrest last year of Police Chief Banjamin Ruiz for allegedly using city mechanics to fix his personal vehicle. Ruiz was indicted about a year ago for official misconduct and theft.

"Honestly, I am baffled that Sergeant Jimenez was not charged criminally with theft by deception or official misconduct," Gonzalez said.

Fusco, meanwhile, said Jimenez cooperated, and that the matter was settled after Jimenez agreed to a punishment. Jimenez's reputation among colleagues as a good cop also helped resolve the situation with nothing more than discipline, Fusco said.

"The system in this particular case worked," Fusco said of the lack of charges. "He cooperated, he acknowledged what he did, and he worked out a deal."

The Middlesex County prosecutor's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Perth Amboy Deputy Police Chief Larry Cattano, who took over for Ruiz running the department after Ruiz's arrest, said the department is working not only to uphold the law, but the public's trust in the department.

"In this matter, as in any matter, all accusations are completely and thoroughly investigated by our Office of Professional Standards and the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office if warranted," Cattano said in an emailed statement. "I can assure you that any misconduct is not tolerated, as I hold each and every member of our Department to a very high ethical standard which the public deserves."

Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.