Harrison Police Chief Michael Olsey has retired from his position as the head of the Police Department, amid sexual harassment allegations made against him from one of the department’s detectives.
On Feb. 15, Olsey submitted his letter of retirement to the Harrison Town Council, whose members also serve as the town police commissioners.
Olsey was under investigation by the town Law Department, which started its investigation when Detective Derka Abbate filed a complaint with Harrison’s attorneys at the end of last year. In the complaint, Abbate accused Olsey of sexual harassing her for six years.
Abbate is a 14-year veteran of the Harrison Police Department, and is married to Richard Abbate, who is also a police officer in the department.
Olsey has served as the town’s police chief since December 2016, after replacing former Chief Anthony Marraccini, who also resigned amid a town investigation. Olsey worked for the department for more than 20 years before becoming the chief.
Olsey continued to work while the town conducted its investigation into the sexual harassment claim.
According to the town budget, Olsey was supposed to earn $210,000 this year. As of press time, Capt. Edward Detlefs is now serving as the acting chief of the department until the town begins searching for Olsey’s replacement.
