More Police Lawsuits Settled in Palisades Park Amid Ongoing Turmoil
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Palisades Park NJ, the Borough Council has approved settlements for two more police officer lawsuits, pushing the 2025 total to four and increasing the town’s growing legal bill from internal police disputes. The two most recent cases, filed by Sgts. Marc Messing and Dennis Pavlik, centered around claims of political interference and retaliation that allegedly blocked their promotions.
These new settlements follow a decade marked by infighting, frequent leadership changes, lawsuits, and ongoing scrutiny of political influence within the Palisades Park Police Department.
💰 Settlement Details: Promotions, Payouts & Retirements
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Sgt. Marc Messing will receive $150,000, a promotion to lieutenant, and two years of retroactive pay. He agreed to retire by January 31, 2026, using accrued time until reaching 25 years of service.
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Sgt. Dennis Pavlik will receive $125,000, the same promotion and back pay, and will retire on March 31.
Despite the settlements, the borough denies any wrongdoing.
Their attorney, Richard Galler, said, “Hopefully, this puts an end to the history of retaliation for political purposes.”
🏛️ Allegations of Political Meddling
Both lawsuits, filed in 2023, alleged that Mayor Paul Kim, Councilman Suk Min, and others used their influence to derail the officers’ careers.
Messing claimed the mayor met him in a parking lot and asked him to pressure his mother, former Councilwoman Cynthia Pirrera, not to run for reelection. He also alleged the mayor told him, “You didn’t help me get elected. Don’t forget that.”
Pavlik’s complaint echoed similar concerns, alleging that former Capt. Shawn Lee allowed political interference to determine promotions within the department.
📊 A Pattern of Settlements in Palisades Park PD
Over the past five years, Palisades Park has paid out more than $3 million in police-related settlements. Some of the most notable include:
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George and Christopher Beck (2024): Promoted to captain and lieutenant, respectively, and received $300,000 total.
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Chief Ben Ramos (2021): Received $850,000 and had all disciplinary charges dropped.
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Chief Anthony Espino (pre-retirement): Received $40,000 in a settlement.
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Unnamed officer (early harassment case): Awarded $120,000 after filing claims against Capt. Shawn Lee.
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Robert DeVito (2020): Awarded $600,000 after alleging he was fired for being gay and later reinstated.
Messing himself received $675,000 in a 2021 settlement after being acquitted of forgery charges.
🕵️ Bergen County Report: Political Influence “Immense Harm” to PD
A 2023 assessment by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office criticized the department for heavy political influence, a lack of leadership, and procedural issues. The report highlighted that:
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Many officers had ties to political organizations.
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Political influence made it difficult to manage, supervise, or discipline within the department.
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The department had gone through six police chiefs in ten years.
The prosecutor’s findings only reinforced the longstanding perception that politics override professionalism in the Palisades Park PD.
⚖️ Three Police Lawsuits Still Pending
Despite recent settlements, three lawsuits remain unresolved, including one filed in January 2025 by Officer Robert DeVito, who is again alleging a hostile work environment and discrimination — echoing his earlier 2020 lawsuit.
🚨 What’s Next for Palisades Park Police Department?
The town faces ongoing pressure to reform the structure, oversight, and political entanglements within its police department. As lawsuits continue to mount and settlement figures rise, residents and officials are being urged to demand more transparency and a clear separation between politics and policing.
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