Perth Amboy Police Officer Promoted Despite Being Caught On Duty Visiting Girlfriend

PERTH AMBOY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A police sergeant from New Jersey was promoted to lieutenant Tuesday, despite being disciplined after a video showed him in one place when he was supposed to be somewhere else.

Perth Amboy police Sgt. Carmelo Jimenez was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on Tuesday, and received a pay increase, according to a statement from the department.

But as CBS2's Christine Sloan reported, the people Jimenez has arrested have hauled him into court over the video.

Jimenez is seen in the video showing up at a girlfriend's home with flowers, and then with food, in an undercover police cruiser over a nine-month period.

"The video essentially depicts the officer - Detective Jimenez - arriving at a place which is out of his jurisdiction in Woodbridge, New Jersey -- during work hours, essentially," said attorney Daniel Gonzalez.

Gonzalez represents clients Jimenez testified against in court. He said he started investigating the sergeant after he was leaving Perth Amboy when he was supposed to be working there.

"For years, I have been indicating there has been an issue with this officer," Gonzalez said.

CBS2 reached out to Jimenez's attorney. He said the officer has accepted responsibility with a suspension and has paid back some of his salary.

Perth Amboy police Deputy Chief Lawrence Cattano added that Jimenez had served his punishment for the infraction and was eligible for promotion.

"The incident in question occurred in the past and appropriate discipline was instituted. Anyone accused of an infraction is brought before the appropriate hearing authority for fair and progressive discipline. As in every situation with a city employee, progressive discipline is utilized, but understand that our officers have the same rights as every other employee in the city,'' Cattano said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Jimenez's attorney also claimed his client was staying at the Woodbridge address after separating from his wife. He claimed further that Gonzalez is making the issue bigger than it really is because he has a vendetta against the officer.

Gonzalez disputed the claim.

"I think that's inaccurate," Gonzalez said. "I think that in this day and age of technology, we need police officers to be followed, because oftentimes, they're doing things that they shouldn't be doing."

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's office initially investigated as required by New Jersey law, and found no criminality in the case.