In a display of Jersey justice, Edison's 'naked cop' is well on the way to getting his job back.
Ioannis Mpletsakis, the Edison Township police officer who crashed his car into the rear of a truck in July 2005 while driving naked, initially fled the scene, getting a lift home to put on clothes and then being brought back by a fellow cop. A passenger in the truck was injured.
Mpletsakis was suspended in September 2005, and subsequently tried in the Dunellen Municipal Court. Though tried on charge of conduct unbecoming a police officer, assault by auto and leaving the scene of an accident , Judge John Leonard found him guilty of the disorderly persons offence of hindering his own arrest, for which he was fined $655.
The Edison police department subsequently terminated Mpletsakis in July of 20006.
Superior Court Judge Melvin Gelade ruled this week that this punishment was too harsh, modifying the decision to 30 days suspension without pay. The ruling did not touch on whether Mpletsakis would be due any back pay on his $72,000 annual salary.
Edison officials said they do not plan to appeal the decision.
Mpletsakis' explanation for why he was driving naked in the first place, why and how he got home and back to the scene, and the question of whether the Edison police properly checked for the role of alcohol in the incident have left many people wondering about the matter even though the courts seem to be officially through with it.
The Home News' bulletin boards have heavy responses to the story (see below) and one cop bulletin board also had choice comments on Mpletsakis' behavior and the case in general.
Meanwhile, if you think the Internet will turn up a pic of Mpletsakis, in the buff or not, you'll be quite disappointed.
In the news and on the bulletin boards --
- Home News Tribune: "Naked ex-cop may be rehired"
- From the Home News comments board: "Comments on naked cop story"
- Star-Ledger: "Cop who ran naked from crash reinstated"
- Edison Sentinel (July 19, 2006): "Judge orders naked cop removed from his job"
- All About Edison (July 17, 2006): "Naked cop guilty for story after crash"
- From the NJ Lawman forum: "Comments: Edison cop can return to force"
-- Dan Damon
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