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Detective Rucco Duardo, Detective Mark Gutierrez, Detective Joseph Gonzales, Sergeant Justin de la Bruiyere and Officer Victor Vazquez received termination notices Friday.
The five were involved in a warrantless search of a Prospect Avenue apartment, leading to several pending criminal cases being dismissed by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
“These five officers betrayed their oath and brought dishonor to the Hackensack Police Department," said Ehrenburg, who served as a police chief in Washington Township in Morris County.
"Terminating them today is the only justified and reasonable action that we can take to bring this matter to a close."
The action comes after a hearing officer recommended the termination of four of the officers and the suspension of the fifth.
The City Manager has final administrative authority in the matter and has decided that it is in the best interests of the city and the police department to terminate each of the five officers, and that their termination is justified and allowable under state law, city officials said in a press release.
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