Article originally publsihed September 16, 2025 from northjersey.com

Link to Article by Philip DeVencentis

A first-year police officer who was terminated in January for allegedly failing a drug test has lost his bid to return to work after a judge tossed his appeal of the township decision.

Judge Rudolph Filko, sitting in state Superior Court in Paterson, ruled that the township was justified in firing Eric Lougheed because, under state law, probationary police officers are not entitled to the same removal protections as permanent officers.

Lougheed, 26, was sworn in as a police officer in June 2024. He was still working toward a permanent appointment when he allegedly violated the Police Department drug-testing policy.

A Jan. 30 letter from the township administrator to Lougheed’s home address to notify him of the termination stated that he tested positive for cocaine.

Frank Cioffi, an attorney for Lougheed, then filed an appeal on his behalf. The former police officer claimed that the discipline charge was wrongly imposed and that he should be able to tell his side of the story in court.

But the judge, in a four-page opinion, dismissed that appeal with prejudice — meaning the case is closed and cannot be refiled.

“Removal or suspension of a police officer is regulated” by state law, Filko wrote, “which clearly and unambiguously only applies to ‘permanent member or officer of the police department.” Furthermore, he added, the statute on which “Plaintiff relied in seeking this court’s review fails to extend that regulation to probationary police officers.”

Cioffi did not respond to an inquiry about the court ruling.

Township Attorney Matthew Giacobbe said on Sept. 15 that he was pleased with the judge’s decision. The ruling recognizes that first-year police officers are probationary employees who can be lawfully terminated “for transgressions, without the need for formal disciplinary hearings,” he added.

“Based on this ruling,” Giacobbe said, “Wayne Township will continue to employ only the most qualified individuals to serve as law enforcement officers.”

Philip DeVencentis is a reporter for NorthJersey.com. For access to the most important news in your community, subscribe or activate your digital account.