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May 17, 2011
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- A New Jersey Human Services Police Department captain and former mayor was charged Tuesday with official misconduct for allegedly misusing police databases and submitting false firearm qualification certificates and expenses.
State Attorney General Paula Dow said Capt. Brian Brady, 49, has been placed on administrative leave from his $101,000 job. Brady is a former mayor of Sparta, a community of 18,000 in northwestern New Jersey.
Brady's attorney, Mario Iavicoli, disputed the charges and said Brady was being retaliated against for complaining to superiors about having to take on extra responsibilities.
The Human Services Police provide police services at developmental centers and psychiatric hospitals and protect child welfare workers.
Dow said Brady is accused of falsifying timesheets and using police databases for personal gain to conduct background checks on members of a minor league baseball team. She did not explain the reason for the background checks.
She said Brady submitted timesheets showing he had worked when he was off on personal trips and sometimes used a state vehicle and state-issued E-ZPass to travel outside of New Jersey.
Brady also is accused of submitting documents falsely stating that he had completed annual firearms qualification.
Iavicoli said Brady drove the state vehicle when he was on call, at odd hours, and actually gave back vacation time that he didn't use. He said authorities were going overboard in charging Brady for doing an improper background check that Brady thought would "benefit the community."
"He thought he had the discretionary right to do the lookup," Iavicoli said. "We believe they wanted to replace him and this is the method they are using."
Brady pleaded not guilty in court, his attorney said, and was released without having to post bail.
The investigation was conducted by the state Division of Criminal Justice.
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