A motion to dismiss the lawsuit was denied Friday.
FREEHOLD - A judge Friday rejected a motion by Ocean County to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former detective in the county prosecutor's office who alleges county-wide corruption, according to a published report.
The Asbury Park Press reports the motion was denied by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Jamie S. Perri. The case was moved to Monmouth County due to conflicts of interest.
The lawsuit was filed by former Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Detective Steven Mecka, who was fired months after filing the suit.
Mecka alleges in the lawsuit that he was passed over promotions and reassigned to other units when he resisted pressure to falsify reports in cases he handled and when he tried to report alleged misconduct.
He claims that a superior actively involved in Democratic politics directed him to work on politically motivated cases targeting high-profile Republicans in the county. In another instance, Mecka alleges he was transferred again after learning charges were fabricated against a man whose wife was having an affair with Mecka's supervisor.
He claims that Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato quashed a number of internal investigations.
After the lawsuit was filed, Coronato called the allegations "meritless." His office also defended the timing of Mecka's firing, saying the administrative charges filed against Mecka had been pending since before the lawsuit was filed.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.