A Camden police sergeant admitted in court Court Wednesday that he lied to fellow officers when he called in to say he'd been shot last year.
Sources told the Courier Post that Sgt. Jeffrey Frett staged the whole thing, asking his wife to shoot him in the leg so he could qualify for early retirement. She shot at him, but missed, according to the paper.
“Whatever happened on that night, it’s unfortunate,” said John Williamson, President of FOP Lodge 1, which represents Camden police officers.
Frett, 40, initially told police he'd been shot at while he was on I-676 in South Camden. He claimed that the shooter fled in a dark-colored van, according to police.
Fellow officers responded, investigated and said there was no evidence to substantiate Frett's claim.
“I didn’t try to hurt anybody. I just had a personal crisis and this is how they thank me for my 17 years of service,” said Frett.
Frett said he was not happy with the way the situation was handled. As part of his plea, Frett agreed to give up his office and was barred from public employment. He has to serve a year of probation and pay $158 in fines.
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Camden Police Chief Scott Thomson said the department will maintain their zero tolerance policy.
