NJ Cop's Firing For Having Sex With Trainee Was Justified, Court Says

PAULSBORO, NJ — The Superior Court of New Jersey said it supported Paulsboro's decision to fire Elijah Camacho in August of 2021 for having sex with a woman he was supposed to be training, court papers said.

Camacho's appeal of his termination set into motion the Superior Court's involvement in the Gloucester County borough matter.

The borough learned Camacho had sex with the trainee between five and 10 times while on duty during an approximately four-month period in 2020, according to the court papers.

"Paulsboro emphasized that Camacho ... thus had not set the 'right example,'" the court papers said.

The borough further felt that Camacho's behavior "created the potential of exposure to liability for Paulsboro from a sexual harassment suit by such a subordinate officer," the court papers continued.

The borough added that it "argued the potential of a sexual harassment case was apparent, while Camacho denied there was any sexual harassment evidence at all" and ultimately ended the relationship with the trainee, the court papers said.

After the breakup, the trainee described "her hate for Camacho and Paulsboro," to a colleague, according to the court papers. The trainee ultimately resigned from the Paulsboro Police Department, according to the court papers.

During Paulsboro's investigation into the incident, Camacho readily "admitted to having sex with [the trainee] while both were on duty, and while he was on duty and she was off," the court papers said.

However, Camacho also refuted claims that "he was a supervisor to [the trainee] or that he was tasked with a responsibility to lead her," according to the court papers.

Camacho also contended that while he was on the job "his work had been rated in 'quantity and quality … above the department’s averages,' 'should be used as a gauge' and 'was part of the department's future direction,'" the court papers said.

He also cited his "excellent interaction on the streets with Paulsboro youths, including playing basketball and football with them at times [and that] he had also joined the SWAT unit," the court papers said.

In addition, Camacho admitted that he had a number of disciplinary actions stemming from events filed against him while employed by Paulsboro and at a previous position with the Camden Metro Police Department, including misplacing a police department's key fob and shotgun rec manual key, having his gun taken as a result of a domestic violence charge, arriving more than a half hour late for work and watching social media instead of completing work responsibilities, according to the court papers.

He also conceded "having so many violations that he triggered the 'early warning system' within the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s office," the court papers said.

There were several reasons the district court sided with Paulsboro, according to the court papers.

"Instead of completing his patrol duties to protect the residents, there was a focus by Camacho in having a succession of rendezvous with women," the court wrote.

"The reaction of Camacho was delayed in responding to his order to turn over police equipment at a time when he was aware he had been revealed as having sex on the job. His reluctance to appear at headquarters when ordered ... also does not support a request for leniency," the court continued.

The news of the Superior Court's decision was first reported by transparencynj.com.

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