A judge has dismissed nearly all misconduct charges against former Roselle Police Chief Stacey Williams, ruling that his use of a homophobic slur did not justify his termination from the $210,000-a-year post.
In a decision Thursday, state Administrative Law Judge Thomas R. Betancourt ordered Williams reinstated with a 30-day suspension, finding that while the chief’s use of the word was inappropriate, it did not amount to discrimination or neglect of duty.
“The context in the present matter is important,” Betancourt wrote. “Appellant (Williams) used the offending word while referring to a personal friend who is gay. It was not used as a pejorative term and was not directed at any individual.”…