Hamburg civilian police director under investigation

HAMBURG — Hamburg Borough Civilian Police Director Wayne Yahm is under investigation by the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office, after police officers union accused the director of violating orders and directives.
In light of the investigation, Sussex County Prosecutor Francis Koch installed Det. Douglas Porter to monitor the Hamburg Police Department.
In his letter to Hamburg Borough Mayor Paul Marino and the Hamburg police, Koch cites the “problematic history between the civil and police authority in Hamburg since 2012” in explaining the reason for the monitor. He states any contact between Yahm, Officer in Charge Sgt. Jason Tangorra, or any other Hamburg officer must go first through Det. Porter, a state police station commander.
“Our office has had numerous meetings, issued verbal and written directives and have attempted to mediate the numerous complaints that have been made over the years,” Koch said in his letter. “Despite our best efforts, the problems unfortunately continue and it is my belief that these issues negatively affect law enforcement and the operations of the police department. It simply cannot be allowed to continue.”
The union, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 57, has not only accused Wayne of violating orders and directions from the county prosecutor’s office, but of overstepping his bounds as a civilian police director, a position — unlike a regular police chief position — with restrictions in permissible activities and in contacts with officers and the public. Yahm is a retired police officer from the Bergen County Sheriff's Department.
The union, which represents officers in Hamburg, Franklin and Ogdensburg, also accused Yahm of “mismanagement” and “poor policy decisions.”
Nevin J. Mattessich, president of the union, reported these accusations to the prosecutor's office, reporting not only a vote of “no-confidence” against Yahm, but demanding he be removed from his post as civilian police director.
“Yahm has shown time and time again that he is incapable of performing his assigned duties in this role,” Mattessich said in a statement, “and outright refuses to comply with directives set forth by the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office and NJ Attorney General’s Office.”
Hamburg police Sgt. George Gunderman said the department could not comment due to the ongoing investigation.
Borough Council responseAt their meeting on Feb. 22, the Hamburg Borough Council unanimously approved the hiring of the Sparta law firm Laddey Clark & Ryan to act as legal counsel pertaining to certain matters relative to the police department.
According to Mayor Paul Marino, the police union has never liked the position of civilian police director ever since Yahm was hired in 2012. When he was hired, the fact that Yahm would be paid a $50,000 salary, $20,000 less than the police chief who has retired, was touted as a reason for the civilian police director choice.
Marino said that as soon as the recent investigation is finished, it should be business as usual.
“We just keep going back and forth on this is issue,” Marino said. “It’s been going on for five years with the union and they keep making accusations. He’s been cleared four times already — so it’s not like this is the first time — and they’ve always cleared him of any wrongdoing. But when they make an accusation, they’re going to investigate it. So as far as I’m concerned, I would like it to be a timely matter and when it gets resolved, we’ll see what we can do.”
Marino said he is confident Yahm is “going to come out okay.”
However, the union has said that they are not satisfied with the Borough Council’s response to the investigation.
In a Facebook post, the union said, “Hamburg residents should now seek an opinion beyond their Borough Council, which again, remains blinded by their personal relationships with Yahm and is unable to truly discern what is best for the Borough of Hamburg.”
Yahm could not be reached for comment.