Suspended Clinton Township detective sues Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office over alleged handling of complaints
HUNTERDON COUNTY, N.J. — A suspended Clinton Township police detective has filed a civil lawsuit against the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office, the county prosecutor and several current and former officials, alleging her rights were violated after she reported concerns involving her police department.
The complaint, filed June 18 in Hunterdon County Superior Court, names as defendants the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée Robeson, Chief of Detectives Timothy Drew, Detective Sgt. Kelsey Marsh, Detective Colin Frinzi, Internal Affairs Capt. Frank Crisologo, Internal Affairs Capt. Paul Approvato, Clinton Township and unidentified defendants.
The plaintiff, Jennifer Pawlick of Readington Township, alleges she met with members of the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office in January 2024 to report concerns involving alleged gender discrimination, internal affairs violations and evidence handling within the Clinton Township Police Department.
According to the complaint, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office decided not to pursue complaints involving Pawlick after allegedly stating it believed she could bring a claim under New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act, or CEPA. The lawsuit alleges that rationale was legally incorrect because Pawlick was not an employee of the prosecutor’s office.
The complaint further alleges the prosecutor’s office shared confidential investigative materials, including a video of Pawlick’s complaints and information regarding her medical conditions, with the Clinton Township Police Department. Pawlick claims those actions violated her rights and improperly aided the township’s internal affairs investigation.
The lawsuit also alleges Pawlick has been suspended without pay from the Clinton Township Police Department since Dec. 19, 2024, and contends many disciplinary complaints were filed after she reported her concerns to the prosecutor’s office.
The complaint seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, court costs and other relief. It includes claims alleging violations of Pawlick’s rights, improper disclosure of confidential information, violations of internal affairs procedures and fabrication of a justification for declining prosecution.
