JURY AWARDS X-CORRECTION OFFICER $7.7 MILLION DOLLARS FOR HELPING THE FBI TAKE DOWN CO-WORKER
In a story posted on NJ.com and in the New Jersey Law Journal a Burlington County Corrections Officer was terminated just months before she was to retire from the Alfred C. Wagner Youth Correction Facility in Burlington County. C/O Lisa Easley filed a CEPA (whistleblower claim) saying that she was wrongfully terminated and retaliated against for helping the FBI in an investigation of another prison official that was taking bribes from employees.
THOMAS DEGISE CONDONES RETALIATION AND ILLEGAL TREATMENT OF DECORATED MILITARY POLICE STAFF SERGEANT VETERAN OMAR ORTIZ WHILE TAKING A PLATFORM TO SUPPORT VETERANS
If you are a Hudson County resident, a tax payer, public servant, or a member of the US Armed Forces this is a story you must read because the elected officials in your town or County are allowing this behavior and you will be footing the bill or even worst, one day THIS COULD BE YOU!!
First I am going to tell you about a 17 year old boy who joined the Army to fight for his Country. In 1996, Omar Ortiz left his parents home in Jersey City and joined the Army. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Bde of the 98th Division as a Staff Sergeant in the Military Police until 1999. His duties included anti-terrorism, criminal investigations, military police law and order, firearms, etc.
In 1997 Military Police Staff Sergeant Omar Ortiz served a 6 month tour in Panama with the Joint Task Force Operation Nuevos Horizontos where he provided security for convoys during the refurbishing of schools and medical clinics, he was also responsible for the safety of the engineers at the projects.
From 1999 through 2002 Military Police Staff Sergeant Omar Ortiz was again activated due to 911, Operation Noble Eagle, to the 2nd Br. 98th Division where his responsibilities included the evaluation and instruction of entry level Military Police soldiers and marines.
In 2002, Military Police Staff Sergeant Omar Ortiz was activated under the Enduring Freedom Act and sent to Iraq for a year where, among other things, he was responsible for the training of Iraq Security Forces, the transfer of high profile detainees, raids, investigations and convoy escorts.
While serving in Iraq and on patrol with 3 MP teams, his team hit a unidentified explosive devise (IED) which took out 2 of the team's Humvee's and injured several members of the team including Ortiz.
On a 2nd occasion while in Iraq, as fate may have it, Military Police Staff Sergeant Omar Ortiz was again seriously injured when the Humvee he was in hit another (IED).
Simultaneous to serving his Country, Military Police Staff Sergeant Omar Ortiz was hired by the Hudson County Corrections Center as a Corrections Officer in 1990, where he rose through the ranks to the position of Lieutenant. Not only has he been a member of the armed National Guard but he has also been a correction officer for the past 25 years, serving his County by keeping watch over inmates at the jail to include Federal inmates.
As if this dual role was not enough, Ortiz also served as PBA President for both the Rank & File Union and and Superior Officers Union for the past 12 years, helping and assisting his fellow officers whenever the need arose. Omar Ortiz has helped others nearly his entire life, never turning anyone away and always finding a way to comfort and protect those in need. Many years ago he even tried to help a member of the Hudson County Improvement Authority that was driving a county vehicle without a license.
This unique and special soldier is currently up for many Medals of Honor including the Purple Heart for his heroic and selfless actions in Iraq. Like many others in the military he suffers from PTSD which can be triggered or exacerbated by numerous stressors.
For example, in March of 2012, Lieutenant Omar Ortiz learned that Deputy Director Kirk Eady was tapping his phone. Not only was Deputy Director Kirk Eady tapping his phone, but Eady was conspiring with Captain Tish Nalls-Castillo to bring Ortiz up on false disciplinary charges and to have him terminated. In June of 2013, they did just that, they brought up bogus charges against Ortiz for leaving his post to obtain to a family emergency and suspended him without pay. Civil Service rules state that an officer may only be suspended without pay for no more than 6 months. If his charges are not disposed of within those 6 months he is to be placed back on the payroll, but Hudson County refuses to place their veteran back on the payroll and it has been 2 years now.
40A:14-201 Law enforcement officer, firefighter, suspension, termination, final determination, payment status.
2. a. When a law enforcement officer employed by a law enforcement agency or a firefighter employed by a public fire department that is subject to the provisions of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes is suspended from performing his official duties without pay for a complaint or charges, other than (1) a complaint or charges relating to the subject matter of a pending criminal investigation, inquiry, complaint, or charge whether pre-indictment or post indictment, or (2) when the complaint or charges allege conduct that also would constitute a violation of the criminal laws of this State or any other jurisdiction, and the law enforcement agency employing the officer or the public fire department employing the firefighter seeks to terminate that officer's or firefighter's employment for the conduct that was the basis for the officer's or firefighter's suspension without pay, a final determination on the officer's or firefighter's suspension and termination shall be rendered within 180 calendar days from the date the officer or firefighter is suspended without pay.
If a final determination is not rendered within those 180 days, as hereinafter calculated, the officer or firefighter shall, commencing on the 181st calendar day, begin again to receive the base salary he was being paid at the time of his suspension and shall continue to do so until a final determination on the officer's or firefighter's termination is rendered.
In January of 2014, Deputy Director Kirk Eady was arrested by the FBI on wiretapping charges. On March 13, 2015, after a week long Trial in front of a Jury of 12, Kirk Eady was found guilty of wiretapping the telephonic transmissions of Lt. Omar Ortiz. Also during this Trial it was confirmed that he and Tish Nalls-Catillo conspired to fabricate charges against Omar Ortiz in an attempt to terminate him. In fact, Captain Tish Nalls-Castillo was present for the Trial to support Deputy Director Kirk Eady and broke down in tears at the finding of his guilt.
Since the guilty verdict on March 13, 2015, the County has obtained the transcripts from the Trial and they too are now aware that the charges against the decorated War Veteran Omar Ortiz were false and that Kirk Eady conspired with Tish Nalls-Castillo to bring the charges against him.
As of today, June 4, 2015, the charges lodged against decorated War Veteran Omar Ortiz have not been dismissed by the County. He has been suspended without pay for nearly 2 years because of these charges. He has had no income for 2 years, he has 2 small children and has had to sell his home. Veteran Ortiz has been in and out of the Veterans Hospital seeking treatment for his condition and yet Hudson County's Kalimah Ahmed, Esquire has denied his FMLA leave. The County has also on two occasions denied his unemployment.
Although everyone in Hudson County knows that their Decorated War Veteran was setup by Deputy Director Kirk Eady and Captain Tish Nalls-Castillo they refuse to drop the charges and put him back on the payroll. Decorated War Veteran Omar Ortiz is eligible to retire this month, except he cannot retire because of the charges hanging over his head. All the Freeholders are aware of this situation, Tom DeGise is aware of the situation: In fact, in the following article he gives a heart warming speech about how veterans should never be homeless while in reality he has thrown his own employee veteran out on the street and left him without income for 2 years causing him to lose his home.....
Hudson County Executive Thomas DeGise said we should pleade that any homeless veteran in Hudson County in need of housing will be able to find it.
Abe Antun is aware of the situation, Donato Battista is aware of the situation, William O'Dea, Anthony Romano and Junior Maldonado are all aware of the situation promising to help but doing nothing; Director Aviles, A VETERAN HIMSELF, joked about the situation saying; "Hey aren't we suppose to be paying you?" And Sean Diaz, Esquire attorney for the County stated that he could care less about Ortiz that Diaz is still getting paid.
This is how Hudson County treats its Decorated War Veterans and it is disgusting. Not only has Ortiz received no income for the past 2 years, Deputy Director Kirk Eady, despite being found guilty of wiretapping on March 16, 2015 remains employed with Hudson County and no disciplinary charges have been lodged again Tish Nalls-Castillo for her role in the conspiracy.
Listen to the Conspiracy
" THE GREATEST CASUALTY IS BEING FORGOTTEN. "
The Wounded Warrior Project
Hudson County has forgotten it's veteran, Omar Ortiz. Please pass this along to any and all agencies, congressman, or political organizations that you feel could assist with this situation. You can email Thomas DeGise at tdegise@hcnj.us with your thoughts on the matter or contact the Hudson County Legal Department at(201) 795-6211, or write to EdPDLaw with any help or suggestions you may have, mail to: EdPDLaw@comcast.net. You can also call your Assemblyman at (201) 770-1303, or the Office of Veteran Affairs in Washington at 1-800-827-1000.
We also encourage you to contact Monarch Housing who has chosen DeGise as the face of their homeless veterans project, they can be reached at 908-272-5363.
