Lt. Kelly Chesler is one of four accused by county prosecutors of falsifying timesheets.
One of the four Jersey City motorcycle cops facing charges of theft and official misconduct is speaking out, with her attorney calling her a victim of political retaliation.
The case against Kelly Chesler -- a police lieutenant who was suspended without pay last week after county prosecutors indicted her, two officers and a retired police captain on multiple charges -- is a prime example of what happens if you fight City Hall, her attorney, Jeff Garrigan, said in a statement issued this afternoon.
The four are accused of falsified timesheets to make it appear like they were working off-duty jobs prosecutors say they weren't.
Garrigan is casting the charges Chesler faces partially as payback for the civil lawsuit she filed against the city in federal court in March 2015 with Joseph Ascolese, the retired police captain. Chesler and Ascolese allege Chesler was the victim of sexual harassment and police brass did nothing when the two complained about it.
"When she uncovered misconduct in the Jersey City Police Department she did what the public would expect a sworn officer to do; she reported it," Garrigan said. "Instead of conducting a proper investigation, however, Jersey City brass targeted her and began a campaign of retaliation."
Garrigan also said the indictment is an attempt to deny Chesler, a 17-year veteran of the police force, a promotion to captain "which she richly deserves."
Mayor Steve Fulop has said the case is an illustration of his administration's attempts to "root out corruption." A request for comment from Fulop's spokeswoman was not immediately returned today.
Michael A. Maietti and Michael O'Neill are the other two cops named in last week's 107-count indictment. The four face charges of conspiracy, theft by deception, falsifying records, official misconduct and pattern of official misconduct.
O'Neill, an officer for 22 years, is "collateral damage in some larger and unrelated dispute," his attorney, Charles Sciarra, said in an email to The Jersey Journal.
"He was in the motorcycle unit, which is at the center of this calamity, for a short time and vehemently denies any wrongdoing," Sciarra said. "His family, friends and colleagues know him for his decency and integrity, and that reputation will be in tact when he is exonerated in this matter."
Attorneys for Ascolese and Maietti could not be reached to comment.
A spokesman for the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office declined to comment.
Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
