As reported by nj.com, although he has a full-time, $248,000 per year job as Union City’s police chief, Charles Everett has been raking in thousands of dollars for off-duty work for keeping tabs on the city’s pool and athletic field. According to records obtained by The Jersey Journal through the state’s Open Public Records Act, the Board of Education paid Everett $34,770 in 2009, $36,840 in 2010, and $17,520 this year, for detail security work at the Jose Marti Athletic Field and one of the two city pools. 

Everett began his detail work with the Board of Education in March 2008, and reportedly was paid $12,000 that year, but the Board of Education did not provide documents confirming that amount. His last day of work on the off-duty job was June 25, 2011.

Everett’s off-duty security work for the Board of Education was first disclosed in a report that aired on News 12 on August 3^rd. The TV news report showed Everett working out in the police gym at time that he was also supposedly working for the school district.

In response to the story, Mayor Brian Stack announced the city would hire an attorney to investigate the matter. Stack spokesman Mark Albiez said the mayor will decide whether or not to take action when the investigation is completed.   

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has also made inquiries into the matter. “We are doing our due diligence and have made some inquiries. I wouldn’t characterize it as an investigation because when you do that it confirms there is an allegation of criminality. We are not saying that,” said Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio.

The detail work policy for off-duty officers at the UCPD was changed in 2006 to allow any officer of any rank to do off-duty work. The prior policy gave first preference to officers below the rank of Sergeant. Out of every 10 detail duties handed out, seven go to officers while three go to superior officers, according to the policy that was instituted.