After a lengthy court battle, Ken Zisa was cleared of criminal charges related to his tenure as police chief.
Former Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa during his trial. HACKENSACK - Mayor John Labrosse is calling on the city's former police chief to drop a $30 million lawsuit after a judge ordered he should receive $2.8 million in lost wages and attorney fees.
After a lengthy court battle, Ken Zisa was cleared of criminal charges related to his tenure as chief.
A judge ordered that Zisa receive $1.7 million in lost wages and $1.1 million for attorney fees. He started collecting the money last week.
Last year, Zisa's attorneys filed tort claim notices informing the city and state that Zisa will be filing lawsuits seeking another $30 million in damages for "psychological and emotional distress," according to Labrosse.
Those claims are still pending, Labrosse said.
"Ken Zisa is already collecting almost $3 million, but that isn't enough for him - he's still demanding the absurd sum of an additional $30 million from taxpayers," Labrosse said in a statement on Wednesday.
"I want Hackensack residents to know that our administration will never allow Zisa to get away with this greedy taxpayer rip-off and that we will vigorously defend the city against these outrageous legal threats," the mayor said. "Zisa should drop any claims toward the city immediately."
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Zisa's criminal court battle began with allegations he covered up a 2008 drunken driving crash involving his girlfriend. The charges were dismissed and a judge in the case stated the evidence was weak.
The tort claims, which were filed Oct. 2015, name seven Hackensack police officers, including those who were cited as key witnesses in the case against him, according to NorthJersey.com.
Zisa claims he suffered stress as a result of the accusations and said he visited a local hospital in 2012 for chest pains.
In an email Wednesday to NorthJersey.com, Zisa's attorney, Patricia Prezioso, said Zisa "has a right to pursue the damages caused to him during the destruction of his life by the officers who made the false allegations against him, and those who facilitated them.
"The mayor should stop attacking the victim, and take steps on behalf of Hackensack taxpayers to hold responsible those who caused the problem," she said.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.