Ex-Super Suing Town Following Defecation On School Grounds

Thomas Tramaglini (Photo courtesy Monmouth Authorities)

  HOLMDEL – The former superintendent of Kenilworth Public Schools who was caught defecating on the high school track one year ago is now suing over the “improper” release of his mugshot.

  Thomas W. Tramaglini, 43, of Aberdeen filed a lawsuit against Holmdel Township, the Holmdel Police Chief, and a school resource officer. The suit claims that police improperly took and leaked his mugshot to news agencies. The suit also accuses the SRO, Jonathan C. Martin, of neglecting to read Tramaglini his Miranda rights before taking him into custody.

  Tramaglini filed the lawsuit in federal court on April 30, 2019. He was caught on May 1, 2018.

  According to the suit, Tramaglini “has sustained significant damages as a proximate result of the unauthorized, intentional, reckless, malicious, and unlawful conduct outlined herein,” i.e. the police taking and releasing his photograph.

  “Tramaglini will never achieve the level of compensation, benefits and retirement pension income that he would have otherwise if the unlawfully taken photographs of him had not been released to the media to satisfy the prurient interests of certain members of the Holmdel Township Police Department and others that they conspired with,” read the complaint.

  Prior to the incident, Tramaglini was the superintendent of Kenilworth Public Schools, earning $145,504 per year. Following the incident, Tramaglini was on paid leave until September 2018, when he resigned his position.

  Tramaglini claims in the complaint that the release of his mugshot was a major factor in his departure from the Kenilworth schools.

  According to the complaint, local media outlets used the mugshot alongside stories stating that Tramaglini was “arrested” and simply “cited for two alleged violations of non-criminal municipal ordinances.”

  In October 2018, Tramaglini pleaded guilty to public defecation and paid a $500 fine. Other charges for littering and lewdness were dismissed.