HOBOKEN AND BEYOND – The former Hoboken police lieutenant whose behavior made headlines across the region after the now-infamous 2005 and 2006 SWAT trips to Louisiana is about to head to the first of possibly six hearings to fight for his job back, according to a report on NJ.com.
Angelo Andriani was part of a group of police officers and officials who travelled to Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina with the now-defunct Hoboken SWAT team to offer assistance to the flood-ravaged region. However, during the trip, Andriani was photographed with waitresses from Hooters holding weapons from the Hoboken SWAT team’s arsenal.
Other photos showed officials and officers consuming alcoholic drinks out of syringes and seductively posing with the women, all while wearing clothing with Hoboken police emblems.
Separately, five SWAT officers who were ethnic minorities filed a discrimination suit against Andriani and the department around the same time.
Andriani was suspended with pay pending an investigation – at a rate of pay, according to the report, of $11,000 a month.
While Andriani was suspended, he allegedly flashed his badge in a Tampa airport after being involved in an alleged verbal altercation. In May 2010, the city terminated Andriani.
Since that time, he has been fighting for his job back. In October 2010, a judge ruled that he should have been suspended, and not fired, for his behavior in Tampa, according to the NJ.com report.
“The city is confident that Mr. Andriani’s termination for [his behavior] will be upheld,” said a March 2011 letter from Mayor Dawn Zimmer to the City Council.
The story says Andriani is expected to appear before an administrative law judge on Jan. 20, Feb. 10, April 2 and 3, and May 1 and 2.
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