Bergen County Public Safety Director Ralph Rivera Jr. told police of his connections to North Jersey law enforcement during his friend's arrest. Watch video
HACKENSACK — "I used to be undersheriff and that's a friend of mine."
Bergen County Public Safety Director Ralph Rivera Jr. told police of his connections to North Jersey law enforcement several times after a truck-driver friend was stopped for allegedly driving drunk on March 19, according to dashcam video released Friday.
The incident occurred after police pulled over Francisco Almonte, 53, as he drove a 2004 Jeep with his wife, Luz Almonte, in the passenger seat, according to police.
Almonte was arrested and issued summonses for DWI and failure to signal.
Driving a black, unmarked police SUV, Rivera approached officers with the Bergen County Sheriff's Office during the early morning traffic stop and let them know of his connection with their department, according to the video and an officer's incident report.
Bergen official accused of interfering in DWI stop
"Hey, officer?" Rivera calls out on the video.
"We're a little busy. Do you mind waiting over there for me?" says the officer.
"Retired state trooper and the public safety director," Rivera tells him.
Again the officer asks Rivera to wait. "I'm under camera and microphone, so I need to act accordingly. I can speak with you in a few minutes. Let me conduct my operation."
Moments later Rivera offers to park his vehicle at a nearby 7-11 store so he can drive his friend's vehicle to avoid impound.
"You familiar with John's Law at all?" an officer asks Rivera, referring to a state law prohibiting an accused drunken driver from having access to his vehicle for 12 hours after an arrest.
"Yes, I am," Rivera responds. "I was undersheriff for six years."
According to police reports, the vehicle was impounded.
In an incident report, Officer Andrew Kara wrote that Rivera "interrupted and distracted me" four times during the traffic stop.
"At multiple points throughout my stop he kept asserting himself as, and referring to the title that he currently holds," Kara wrote. "I felt overwhelmed after learning Mr. Rivera's identity."
Last week, Bergen County Executive James Tedesco suspended the director and asked the county prosecutor's office to investigate the matter.
"Any additional action on behalf of the county will be determined following completion of the prosecutor's investigation," Tedesco said in a statement. "As this matter is now the subject of an active investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, my administration will have no further comment."
Rivera continues to collect his $103,000 a year salary.
Rivera and the Almontes could not be reached for comment Monday.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.