Mayor Moves to Assist a Disgraced Officer

The Mayor of Vineland, New Jersey is at the center of controversy after he reportedly ordered that all charges be dismissed against a disgraced former police officer.

Former Vineland Police Detective Gamaliel "Gami" Cruz was fired two years ago after investigators discovered that he lied to a judge while trying to secure a search warrant.

Cumberland County prosecutors moved to drop the charges against 39 defendants — which in most cases involved drug offenses — because Cruz’s testimony would have been needed to carry on with the prosecutions.

Officials said the dismissals were necessary "in the interest of justice."

Cruz was suspended and then fired from the Vineland Police force in 2012.

Two years later however, Cruz could possibly be rehired after Vineland Mayor Ruben Bermudez issued an order on May 21 which dismissed all the charges against the ex-officer, according to the Daily Journal.

Former Vineland Mayor Robert Romano told NBC10 he was outraged.

"To rehire this guy without being ordered by a judge is a travesty to the city of Vineland," Romano said.