Losing control of the CPD has been expensive for Clark Township. 4 Years later Clark is still paying the salaries of suspended officers at a cost of well over $1.5 million, and Chief Matos is still the highest paid town employee. This took money away from other important services and projects in the community and today the Town of Clark still does not control its own police department.

From the report:
“The number and nature of allegations contained in the anonymous letters and Draft Complaint, the actions taken by township and police department authorities to conceal the conduct alleged in the Draft Complaint from the public as well as the Prosecutor’s Office, and the recorded conversations obtained by UCPO, necessitated not only the initiation of a largescale investigation into the specific conduct set forth in the myriad allegations, but also the need to immediately remove the leadership within the department and audit all functions of the department.

In July of 2020, UCPO sought and obtained permission from OAG to exercise supersession authority over CPD. In addition to granting UCPO such permission, OAG also provided resources to support the sweeping investigation that needed to occur.

On July 23, 2020, UCPO entered CPD headquarters. Three members of the Department’s command staff, including the Chief, were relieved of their duties, and the County Prosecutor took immediate control over the operations of CPD. Once in control of the department, members of UCPO’s Cybercrimes Task Force took all necessary steps to secure, preserve, and seize all electronic databases and equipment that could contain information relevant to the investigation. UCPO issued standard operating procedures to all departmental personnel appointing a Captain from UCPO as Officer in Charge over the Department, and removing the subjects of the investigation from the chain of command. Additionally, UCPO took control of the internal affairs function of the Police Department.”

Read the full report here:

Attorney General's Report on Clark

 

Download the Full Document Here