NJ cops caught using racial slurs in 2020 can now be fired

CLARK, N.J. — Clark Township can now proceed with firing two police officers caught on secret recordings using racial slurs in 2020, after a Superior Court judge reinstated their lawsuit and cleared the way for disciplinary hearings to resume. The decision was first reported by NJ.com, which has closely followed the case for years.

Judge Lisa Miralles Walsh issued the ruling on Dec. 18, reopening a stalled process that has frustrated residents and fueled criticism of the township’s handling of the scandal.

Suspended Clark Township NJ Police Officers Continued Receiving Full Pay

According to NJ.com, the officers at the center of the controversy,  Police Chief Pedro Matos, Sgt. Joseph Teston, and Capt. Vincent Concina, have remained on the payroll since their 2020 suspensions. Their salaries continued to rise even as they faced allegations of racist conduct and retaliation.

Township payroll records obtained by NJ.com show Clark has paid the three officers more than $2.6 million since July 2020.

• Matos received $979,298
• Concina earned $178,979
• Teston collected $147,556

Each officer’s pay increased by more than 14 percent during their suspension, NJ.com reported.

Officers Argue the Probe Violated State Deadlines

Defense attorneys told the court that the state’s investigation dragged on so long that any discipline should be dismissed. New Jersey law requires internal affairs charges within 45 days of gathering “sufficient information.”

The officers’ lawsuit claims investigators had enough evidence by April 2022, more than a year before the Attorney General’s Office released its findings. Their lawyers described the delays as “ungodly” and “absurdly long,” according to NJ.com.

However, during a Dec. 3 hearing, state attorneys argued that the length of the investigation does not prevent disciplinary action. They said the only relevant question is whether the probe was still active, and they maintained it was.

Secret Recordings Sparked Outrage and a $400,000 Payout

The scandal began when former Lt. Antonio Manata revealed he had secretly recorded Matos, Teston, and then‑Mayor Sal Bonaccorso using racial slurs, including the N‑word. The recordings also captured Bonaccorso making derogatory remarks about women in law enforcement.

NJ.com reported that Clark officials paid Manata $400,000 in January 2020 for the recordings. He remained on the payroll without working until his retirement in 2022. Concina was later suspended for allegedly retaliating against him.

Attorney General Called for Firings of Clark Township Officers in 2023

In November 2023, Attorney General Matthew Platkin recommended firing Matos and Teston and demoting Concina. His office also released a report criticizing township officials for attempting to conceal the recordings, NJ.com reported.

Matos’ attorney, Charles Sciarra, blasted the state’s handling of the case, accusing the Attorney General’s Office of “delay and incompetence.” The office did not comment to NJ.com about the ruling.

Scandal Toppled Longtime Mayor

The recordings also implicated Bonaccorso, who later apologized for making offensive remarks. He pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to commit official misconduct and forgery. As NJ.com noted, he is serving three years of probation, resigned days after starting his seventh term, and is permanently barred from holding public office.

Clark Township Still Paying Suspended Officers

Despite the ruling, the three officers remain on the payroll. Their combined salaries have cost taxpayers millions, according to NJ.com, even as the township prepares for disciplinary hearings expected to begin in the new year.

Walsh’s written reasoning remains sealed after the Attorney General’s Office argued investigative records should stay confidential.