Fired Camden Co. Cop Quits School Board Post Amid Gun, Assault Charges

CAMDEN, NJ — A former Camden County cop has been suspended from his city job and stepped down from his role on the school advisory board after being charged in a domestic violence incident, according to officials and reports.

According to NJ.com, Clayton Gonzalez, 34, is accused of threatening a woman and her children with a gun multiple times in November of 2023. He faces charges including third-degree terroristic threats, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

According to court records, Gonzalez allegedly got an unregistered handgun from a cabinet during an argument at the woman's home and waved it around, threatening to ruin her and her family's life. The next day, he was reportedly driving her to work with her children in the car and pulled the firearm out of his backpack, placing it on the seat, and saying he didn't want to have to "teach a lesson," reports said.

Gonzalez was placed on leave from his city Recreation Supervisor position in November and formally resigned from the the Camden City School District advisory board in December, Patch confirmed.

"I am unable to continue serving on the board for the remainder of my current term or for the new term I was elected to serve," Gonzalez wrote in a letter to the advisory board's president on Dec. 10 — two weeks after he was arrested.

"I have made this decision based on personal circumstances. Additionally, I feel that it is in the best interest of my personal health and to my family’s priority," he continued.

Vincent Basara, a spokesperson for the city, said Gonzalez was "immediately" placed on leave when city administrators learned he had been arrested. Gonzalez had started the position July 31, 2023 and was placed on leave Nov. 29.

"The City of Camden takes these matters seriously and are mindful of all those impacted by the situation," he said. "(Nevertheless), the employee is afforded due process. Since this is a personnel matter and still under investigation, the City has no further comment.”

The former County Police detective was also terminated from the county police department in 2022, according to the department's annual major discipline reporting form. According to a synopsis, Gonzalez was the lead detective on a juvenile sexual assault investigation.

"During the interview of the victim, Detective Gonzalez was hostile, utilized harsh and profane langauge and traumatized the juvenile victim," the form reads. "Additionally, during the Internal Affairs Investigation Detective Gonzalez lacked candor."

Sustained charges against him included: incompetency, neglect of duty, conduct unbecoming an officer, withholding information, and compromising criminal cases.

Gonzalez's LinkedIn profile indicates he was a detective for seven years.