Sayreville cop alleges ex-mayor falsely 'implied' his involvement in Dwumfour murder

SAYREVILLE - Borough Police Officer David Sivilli is suing former Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick, alleging that her remarks to a News 12 reporter falsely "implied that Officer Sivilli was somehow involved in the murder of former Councilwoman Dwumfour."

Sivilli, who also served as deputy chairman and a member of the Sayreville Democratic Organization, president of the PBA Local 98 and a member of the borough's Zoning Board of Adjustment, filed the lawsuit in Middlesex County Superior Court on Jan. 10.

The sut also names the borough as a defendant, saying it was "vicariously liable" for the mayor's "outrageous and willful" conduct.

Sivilli claims that Kilpatrick's actions were made in retaliation for his role in the Sayreville Democratic Organization's refusal to endorse her for re-election.

Because of Kilpatrick's statement, Sivilli argues in the lawsuit, he was investigated by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office in connection with the Feb. 1, 2023 murder of Dwumfour outside her apartment.

Kilpatrick said Thursday she had no comment on the lawsuit because she had not yet seen it.

Rashid Ali Bynum, 29, of Portsmouth, Virginia, was arrested on May 30, 2023 in Chesapeake, Virginia, and charged with Dwumfour's murder, as well as unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose.

The case is still pending in Middlesex County Superior Court.

The controversy leading to the lawsuit began when Sivilli, acting as PBA president, wrote a letter to Kilpatrick in January 2023, objecting to Dwumfour's appointment as chair of the Borough Council's Public Safety Committee. The borough's fire department had already written a letter to Kilpatrick objecting to the appointment, according to the lawsuit.

In an interview with Alex Zdan, a former News 12 reporter, nearly two weeks after the murder, Kilpatrick said she was "concerned" about the letter.

More: Eunice Dwumfour murder hearing offers first look at defense strategy

When asked by Zdan whether she was concerned that some of the people opposed to Dwumfour's appointment were investigating the murder, Kilpatrick replied, "It does make me feel a bit unsettled to say the least."

Kilpatrick did not mention Sivilli by name in the interview.

In the lawsuit, Sivilli contends in the interview that Kilpatrick "heavily implied" that "somehow" he was involved in the murder.

That implication, Sivilli charged, "caused several residents and members of the public to infer" that he had been involved in the murder.

"Some members of the public shunned and avoided" him because of that implication, Sivilli alleges.

Two weeks after the mayor's interview, Siviili said he was "forced to resign" from the Zoning Board of Adjustment because of the mayor's remarks.

A month later, on April 24, Sivilli, while on overtime, was providing security at council meetings.

According to the lawsuit, Kilpatrick was upset that Sivilli was at the meetings and "stated to the borough's business administrator that (Sivilli) should not be present at the meetings because he made her nervous, apparently based upon the implication that he was involved in Councilwoman Dwumfour's murder."

The lawsuit also alleges that on May 22, 2023, Kilpatrick said she would not attend any more Council meetings "because the police officer (Sivilli) who provides security at the meetings "makes her feel uncomfortable and unsafe, ostensibly due to his alleged involvement in Councilwoman Dwumfour's murder."

In the lawsuit, Sivilli says he was forced to step down as deputy chairman of the Sayreville Democratic Organization since his presence was a distraction to the organization because of the mayor's remarks.

Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com

Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Sayreville cop sues ex-mayor for alleged defamation