A police officer in Bergen County, who recently retired, has filed a lawsuit against Palisades Park, claiming the borough refused to promote him after he cooperated with a prosecutor’s office investigation into the mayor.
Michael DeBartolo, a borough police officer for 25 years, states in court papers he was ordered to appear at the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office for an investigation into Palisades Park Mayor Paul Kim.
The prosecutor’s office was seeking information about the mayor’s full-time employment with the Bergen County Housing Authority, according to the suit, filed Dec. 30, 2025, in Superior Court of Bergen County.
DeBartolo gave a statement to prosecutor’s office investigators on Feb. 22, 2024, according to the lawsuit.
Months later, DeBartolo was denied a promotion to sergeant, even though he was the most qualified and had been working in an administrative sergeant’s role, the suit alleges.
On Dec. 19, 2024, the police department served DeBartolo with an internal affairs complaint for misconduct, which included allegations of sick leave abuse, neglect of duty and issues with truthfulness and his performance, according to the suit.
The internal affairs complaint was issued in retaliation for DeBartolo’s participation and testimony in the prosecutor’s office investigation of Kim, the lawsuit alleges.
“Further and more specifically, the internal affairs complaint was intended and designed to tarnish the plaintiff and ensure he would not be elevated to the rank of sergeant,” the lawsuit contends.
Scott Krumholz, a borough attorney, said the mayor is unaware of a prosectuor’s office investigation into his activities.
“Mayor Kim has never been notified that he was the target of any investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and vehemently denies it to be true,” Krumholz said in a statement.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said it could not confirm or deny whether there is an investigation.
The lawsuit states the prosecutor’s office superseded the borough’s internal investigation into DeBartolo, and issued a finding in March 2025 that the allegations did not warrant the police department’s investigation.
In a statement, the borough said the police department follows the promotional standards set forth by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, along with all state and federal laws.
“All promotions are based purely on merit, achievement and fitness to perform the duties of the office in question. The borough will defend itself vigorously from these unfounded and specious allegations,” the statement said.
After the prosecutor’s finding, DeBartolo claims he was reassigned to a position where he was a subordinate to junior officers.
DeBartolo’s attorneys filed a notice of intent to sue the borough on March 4, 2025. DeBartolo retired from the police department in August 2025, the suit says.
DeBartolo alleges the borough retaliated against him in violation of the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act and state civil rights laws.
Palisades Park’s “actions were taken to retaliate against plaintiff for his expression of opinions and factual recitation as a private citizen,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit claims the borough’s “retaliatory actions” were sufficient to deter DeBartolo from exercising his constitutional rights to free speech.
DeBartolo claims he suffered loss of retirement income, mental anguish, embarrassment, humiliation, and medical bills.