Lakewood, NJ - Ex-Police Director Seeks Answers for His Ouster

Lakewood, NJ - Al Peters, the former director of the Lakewood Police Department, wants answers.
At tonight's Township Committee meeting, Peters said he will stand before the five-member panel and demand an explanation for why he was forced out as the department's leader. "My record is impeccable, and I will not let this tarnish my record in any way," Peters said.

Two weeks ago, the retired State Police major was bought out of his $119,000 annual contract, on which seven months remain. The buyout followed a Nov. 8 phone call Peters received from Mayor Meir Lichtenstein, who informed Peters that his days as public safety director were likely num-bered. No reason was provided during that conversation, Peters said.
Peters said he still is waiting for an explanation. "They had no reason to terminate the contract, so legally they had to buy me out. There was no legitimate reason for termination," Peters said.

While the committee has offered no explanation, some members of the Orthodox Jewish community have expressed concerns about the Police Department.
In particular, some residents have expressed dissatisfaction regarding what is perceived as heavy-handed ticketing for parking violations downtown, the handling of the assault of an Orthodox woman last summer and the handling of a confrontation between a Jewish school teacher and a black teenager.