New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division November 18, 2003 (In re the Arbitration between FOP Lodge 97 & Gloucester County Sheriff's Office)

The opinion of the court was delivered by

KING, P.J.A.D.

This case presents a conflict between the policy of arbitration finality and the policy of deciding public safety disciplinary matters on the merits. We conclude that the public policy clearly expressed by In re Charles Frey, 160 N.J.Super. 140, 388 A.2d 1329 (App.Div.1978) (Frey), interpreting N.J.S.A. 40A:14-147 controls.