ORANGE — Police Director Hakim Sims has been suspended with pay as officials continue to investigate a female lieutenant's claims that he repeatedly sexually harassed her.
City spokesman Keith Royster confirmed that Mayor Dwayne Warren handed down the suspension on Wednesday, months after the probe into the lieutenant's allegations began.
He declined to say what spurred the move, saying only that city leaders decided it was appropriate given the nature of the probe.
"In order to not have a cloud of these allegations over the leadership of the police department, it was best to take an unfortunate but necessary step," Royster said.
The lieutenant filed a tort claim detailing Sims' alleged sexual harassment — including claims he told her she "reminded him of a porn star" — in September. The filing also argued that she had been hit with administrative charges after rebuffing the advances.
That was followed by a lawsuit filed in Essex County Superior Court in January, saying city officials had failed to properly investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, Sims is pursuing a $2.5 million claim of his own against the lieutenant and the city, in which he calls the harassment and retaliation allegations "patently false" and politically motivated.
He contends that the lieutenant was a close ally of Sims' predecessor as director, Aric Webster, as well as former mayor Eldridge Hawkins Jr., who had publicly battled with Sims during his time in office, and became hostile toward Sims after his appointment in 2012, according to the claim.
Hawkins father, Eldridge Hawkins Sr., is representing the lieutenant in her lawsuit and tort filings.
Sims' attorney, Gina Mendola Longarzo, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Officials had not named a replacement for Sims as of this afternoon, though Royster said they expected to soon.
Sims earned a salary of $128,660 in 2014, according to public records.
Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.