Bergen County to cover $615K legal bill, months of back pay in 2 cops’ acquittal

Bergen County will be picking up $615,000 in legal fees and cutting a check for back pay to two county police officers found not guilty this year in a politically charged criminal case.The agreement with the pair signals an end to one chapter in a matter that began four years ago and took a turn in May when Officers Saheed Baksh and Jeffrey Roberts were acquitted of charges they lied to investigators and removed evidence from the scene of a police shooting following a high-speed chase. But controversy over their case is likely to continue.

County spokesman John Gil said Friday he could not answer several questions raised by The Record — including the payments due to the officers — until next week. The officers’ lawyers declined to reveal details about the agreement, citing confidentiality.

But Roberts’ attorney, Charles Sciarra, said it provides for back pay and calls for both officers to accept written reprimands. Bergen County Police Chief Brian Higgins confirmed that the settlement calls for reprimands in the officers’ files.

“Everything has been resolved,” Sciarra said. “There’s a back-pay amount, there’s a resolution of the disciplinary case.”

“I think it was fair to both sides and saves the county a lot of money and avoided litigation, so it’s a win-win,” said Louis DiLuzio, the lawyer for Baksh.

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