Top cop in Millville, N.J. charged with DUI after crash

MILLVILLE, N.J. (WPVI) -- He was the top ranking officer in charge at the police station in Millville, New Jersey. Now Lt. Edward Zadroga is facing an uncertain future after he was arrested for DUI Sunday night outside a popular sports bar.

Millville Police Lt. Jody Farabellas explains, "He was pulling out of a driveway, and it was a sideswipe - he ran into another car."

It happened at shortly after 10 p.m. at Sharp and Main Streets as Lt. Zadroga was pulling out of the parking lot of Sidelines sports bar.

The officers who arrived to investigate eventually arrested Lt. Zadroga, even though he is their commanding officer.

He has been charged with DWI and reckless driving.

No one was hurt in the accident.

Lt. Zadroga has been in the news before. A couple of years ago he settled a whistleblower lawsuit with Millville for $100,000. He claimed he was harassed by fellow officers after revealing a ticket fixing scheme.

Earlier this month he was appointed to the temporary supervisory position by Mayor Michael Santiago.

The mayor says, for now, Zadroga's job is secure.

"We're all human. We make mistakes. We put on this uniform every day to make a service to the city of Millville, to the county of Cumberland. But we are human. We all put our pants on the same way, and it is what it is at this point," the mayor said.

Residents of Millville have mixed opinions about the incident and what should happen to the lieutenant.

Resident Zach Segers tells us, "It's a mistake, ya know? Things happen. But at the end of the day I do think he should be held accountable for it, just like we should. I don't feel like it should be swept under the rug, like they do with everything else."

Others say he should not only be treated like anyone else in this situation, but, because of his official responsibility, Lt. Zadroga should be held to a higher standard.

Millville resident Ashley Jones says, "Well, he needs to go. Give him a ticket - give him everything. He needs to go to jail... not lose his job, but teach him a lesson."

Last October two other Millville police officers were charged with DUI.

Mayor Santiago says these are isolated incidents and not signs of a troubling culture within the police force.