36°
“After learning late Tuesday about the pending charges, I suspended Director Michael Bradley without pay, effective immediately," Tedesco told Daily Voice on Thursday. "I have also ordered the Bergen County Inspector General to fully investigate his actions."I expect all county employees to obey the law and exhibit responsible conduct," Tedesco said. "Anyone who fails to do so will be held accountable.”
As Daily Voice reported Thursday morning, Oakland police stopped the black Ford Explorer driven by Bradley on southbound Ramapo Valley Road at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday after receiving a report of an erratic driver in the area.
The vehicle -- which sources said was purchased with county forfeiture funds-- had “damage to the passenger side mirror from having struck a mailbox somewhere on Franklin Avenue,” the police report says.
Police weren't sure in which town the crash occurred, Lt. Christian Eldridge told Daily Voice.
Bradley, 48, of Wayne, was subsequently arrested on several charges – including DWI, driving under the influence in a school zone, making an improper turn from a marked turning course and having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle -- the report says.
He was later released without bail to a responsible adult after submitting he “submitted to post-arrest testing and processing,” it says.
A March 2 date was scheduled in Oakland Municipal Court.
Daily Voice left messages seeking comment from County Executive Jim Tedesco and Public Safety Director Ralph Rivera Jr.
Bradley, who has been a career law enforcement officer for 25 years, held various posts with the county sheriff’s officer before retiring and taking a position in county administration.
Certified in various areas of expertise, he worked himself up through the ranks – at some point leading every unit, bureau and division in the sheriff’s office – before supervising the agency’s daily operations after joining in 1988.
He also holds a certification by the New Jersey Superior Court as an expert in the area of police canine work and fingerprint identification.
Bradley received several commendations for his police work, and is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy, the West Point Command and Leadership Program and the FBI Command Institute.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Hackensack and receive free news updates.
