Westfield Police Chief Quit After 2 Controversial Incidents: Rpt.

Two eyebrow-raising incidents involving the police department happened in the months leading to Westfield Police Chief David Wayman's departure, a report says.

Wayman's action, which was effective Aug. 1, came after consultation with the Union County Prosecutor’s office and the town’s labor counsel, Mayor Shelley Brindle said in a release.

The UCPO has stayed mum on the chief's departure. "The Prosecutor’s Office cannot confirm details about, or the existence of, investigations of this nature," Mark Spivey, spokesman with the UCPO told Patch.

NJ Advance Media, meanwhile, identified two incidents that raised questions in recent months without saying they had anything to do with the chief's retirement:

• Earlier this year, the daughter of Westfield police captain John Ricerca was not ticketed until a month after a serious car accident, according to NJ Advance Media, even though the crash report found her liable. Her tickets were transferred and handled by Mountainside Municipal Prosecutor James Forest, an ex-Westfield councilman, and the case was dismissed.
• NJ Advance Media also revealed two police accident reports with the same case numbers involving a hit-and-run accident involving a police vehicle. One police report said the Westfield Conservatory Center incident happened on March 7; another police report listed the same incident as happening on April 9.

In the accident case, Ashley Redding told nj.com she's upset no one was held accountable after the police captain's daughter collided with her car. The crash, she said, hospitalized her, forced her into serious financial trouble and she wasn't cleared immediately to return to her job as a school psychologist in Paterson.

"How are we supposed to have trust in people, have faith in the system if they are not enforcing it," Redding told nj.com. "There are days I don't want to go to therapy because I'm sick. I want to pretend it all didn't happen."

In the meantime, Capt. Chris Battiloro was appointed acting chief of police.

“As with any personnel change of this magnitude, it’s critical that we complete a thorough search for a police chief who will lead by example and instill a culture of trust and accountability,” said Brindle. “I am committed to a process that is worthy of the outstanding and dedicated members of our Police Department, as well as the residents they serve.”

Brindle indicated that Town Administrator Jim Gildea will discuss the details of the search process for a new permanent chief of police in the coming weeks with the Town Council.

"The town remains fully compliant in terms of the amount of information it is able to release on this topic, and it intends to provide additional details at the appropriate time," the release stated.

Wayman had served as chief of police since April 2012.

With reporting by Alexis Tarrazi

Image via Town of Westfield, NJ Police Department