Edison fires cop accused of sexual pressure, lying

EDISON A township police officer who was accused of pressuring a woman for sex and lying to internal affairs was fired Wednesday after Mayor Thomas Lankey rejected a hearing officer's recommendation to dismiss departmental charges.

Lankey fired Officer Anthony Sarni based on disciplinary charges filed against him two years ago, including allegations that Sarni provided misleading statements to detectives in internal affairs.

“Allegations against this police officer are so egregious and the evidence so persuasive that I cannot in good conscience abide by the hearing officer's decision,” Lankey, who is also the township's public safety director, said in a news release. “His actions are reprehensible for a sworn officer.”

“Based on legal counsel's advice, I terminated Officer Sarni today, and the township is fully prepared to defend this decision,” Lankey said.

Sarni's attorney, Steve Cahn, said the firing is a political move.

"It's really disappointing," said Cahn, who plans to file a lawsuit against the township Thursday, ask for an emergency hearing and have his client reinstated.

Cahn, an Edison-based attorney, said Sarni, who has been suspended for more than two years, wants to return to work.

Secaucus-based attorney Michael D'Anton — hired as an independent hearing officer in the case — issued a recommendation Monday to procedurally dismiss departmental charges against Sarni after holding a series of closed administrative hearings.

Cahn questions what legal authority there was to fire Sarni. He said that by law, if the charges are dismissed, the officer should be reinstated and receive pay.

"That doesn't leave much room for interpretation," Cahn said.

Sarni, 39, has been suspended with pay from his $120,000 job since October 2013, when Police Chief Thomas Bryan filed departmental charges against the 11-year patrolman for — among other things — allegedly engaging in misconduct and lying to internal affairs detectives.

According to Cahn, Sarni was on duty a few years ago when he responded to a call at hotel in Edison, where he spoke to a woman. The officer got the woman's telephone number and later contacted her when he was off duty. He said the two had a conversation and then he left. About a month later, the woman claimed Sarni tried to pressure her for sex. Cahn said the woman did not want to proceed with any charges.

But an internal affairs investigation alleged that Sarni was not truthful. Cahn filed to dismiss the charges, and the court ordered the disciplinary hearing, where the charges were dismissed.

“The township vehemently disagrees with the hearing officer's decision and is confident this termination will stand. While Mr. Sarni feels compelled to defend himself in the media, the township intends to fully defend this termination in the judicial system,” township Business Administrator Maureen Ruane said.

Bryan said he supports the mayor's decision to terminate Sarni.

“I have full faith in Capt. Shannon and the internal affairs personnel who were involved in this investigation," Bryan said. "Sarni's reprehensible behavior, which he admitted to, makes him unfit to maintain the public trust as a sworn police officer. Termination was the only option, and the Police Department will work with the Lankey administration to sustain the termination.

"The Lankey administration and my command staff consistently work to enhance the Edison Police Department's professionalism, reputation and public image. Anything less than termination in this case would be counterproductive to our efforts.”

Sarni is not the only Edison police officer to face controversy. Earlier this year, the mayor gave up a bid to fire an officer whom the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office had deemed “not credible” because of allegedly racist text messages he had sent. The township in that case accepted an employment hearing officer’s recommendation for a suspension, giving Officer David Pedana a 95-day unpaid leave.

Staff Writer Suzanne Russell: 732-565-7335; srussell@mycentraljersey.com