the staff of the Ridgewood blog
LYNDHURST, NJ — A New Jersey state appeals court has upheld a Bergen County Superior Court decision to reinstate a fired Lyndhurst police sergeant, finding that his termination was excessive and “shocking to one’s sense of fairness.”
The ruling, issued June 9, 2025, affirms the February 2024 decision by Superior Court Judge Christine Farrington, who ordered that Sgt. Richard Pizzuti be reinstated with back pay and instead face a 21-day unpaid suspension.
📌 Background: The Incident That Sparked the Firing
The disciplinary case stems from a January 2020 incident in which Pizzuti took home a manila envelope and a digital scale tied to another officer’s arrest. The items had been left unsecured in the department’s communications room. According to court documents, Pizzuti, who was suffering from a migraine at the time, placed the items in a clear plastic lunch bag to keep them safe and intended to return them the following morning.
“I didn’t want to leave [the items] out. I didn’t want to be responsible if [they were not] there in the morning,” Pizzuti testified.
Despite his explanation, Pizzuti was terminated in March 2022 after an internal affairs investigation found that he violated department rules and made false statements to investigators.
⚖️ Judge, Appeals Court Say Termination Was Too Severe
In 2024, Judge Farrington ruled that while Pizzuti had committed conduct unbecoming of an officer, the township had not sufficiently proven other more serious allegations. She imposed a 21-day suspension without pay as a more appropriate penalty.
On appeal, the Appellate Division agreed, citing Pizzuti’s 21-year law enforcement career, including seven years with the DEA, and lack of any prior disciplinary action.
“There are no allegations he intended to steal the items… and Sgt. Pizzuti has never before been reprimanded for mishandling evidence,” the ruling said.
The appellate panel emphasized that firing Pizzuti was “so disproportionate to the offense… as to be shocking to one’s sense of fairness.”
👨⚖️ Legal Battles: Retaliation Alleged by Pizzuti
In addition to fighting his termination, Pizzuti filed multiple lawsuits against Lyndhurst Township, Mayor Robert Giangeruso, Police Chief Richard Jarvis, and Capt. John Mazure. His first suit, filed in 2022, alleged retaliation after he filed an internal affairs complaint against Mazure in 2019 for harassment.
Pizzuti further claims retaliation was politically motivated after he won a seat on the Lyndhurst Board of Education, defeating Jarvis’ wife. He alleges this led to a targeted campaign by township officials that culminated in his firing.
In May 2024, he filed a second lawsuit under New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), commonly known as the state’s whistleblower law, further alleging retaliatory actions.
📰 What’s Next?
As Pizzuti returns to the Lyndhurst Police Department following his reinstatement, his legal challenges against township leadership continue. Meanwhile, the decision serves as a notable precedent in New Jersey law enforcement discipline, highlighting the need for proportionate consequences and protection for whistleblowers in public service.
Tell your story #TheRidgewoodblog , #Indpendentnews, #information, #advertise, #guestpost, #affiliatemarketing,#NorthJersey, #NJ , #News, #localnews, #bergencounty, #sponsoredpost, #SponsoredContent, #contentplacement , #linkplacement, Email: Onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com