Michael Mordaga was hired to reorganize the department, a task he said ended recently with a series of promotions.
HACKENSACK - After a three-year reorganization of the police department, Police Director Michael Mordaga said Tuesday he will step down May 16 to pursue opportunities in the private sector.
Mordaga was hired to reorganize the department, a task he said ended recently with a series of promotions.
"It's a young department, there's a lot of opportunity," Mordaga told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. "I'm going back to the private sector."
Mordaga previously worked as chief of detectives in the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. He was hired in January 2013 as Hackensack's civilian police director, earning $150,000 a year. He also collects an annual pension of $127,000 a year.
City officials hired Mordaga for a one-year term, which was extended after the PBA and local leaders asked for more time, according to Mordaga.
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The police director's term has not been without controversy.
In February, The Record reported that lawyers for a suspended captain were asking the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office investigate Mordaga for allegedly making decisions beyond the scope of his authority.
On Monday, The Bergen Dispatch reported Joseph J. Blaettler, a retired deputy chief of the Union City Police Department, accused Mordaga of overstepping the authority of a civilian police director, which led to "numerous lawsuits" against the police department.
On Tuesday, Mordaga brushed aside the criticism, saying he was leaving because his work in Hackensack is complete.
"There's nothing factual about (Blaettler's comments)," he said.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.