County to fire cop for lewd act at Cherry Hill Starbucks

The Camden County Police Department will move to dismiss a lieutenant who was suspended last year for allegedly committing a lewd act inside a Starbucks in Cherry Hill, county officials said Monday.

Benito Gonzalez Jr., who led the department's narcotics unit, pulled down his pants and exposed his genitals before touching himself at the Starbucks at 1192 E. Route 70 on May 7, Cherry Hill police said. Gonzalez was off-duty at the time.

Cherry Hill Police posted a picture of the suspect shortly after the incident.

On March 11, Cherry Hill Municipal Court Judge Jeffrey Karl found Gonzalez guilty of a disorderly-persons lewdness offense for the incident.

An administrative hearing is expected to be held on Gonzalez's employment, Camden County spokesman Dan Keashen said Monday. Gonzalez has not received pay during his suspension.

Gonzalez, a 17-year police veteran in Camden, is still eligible for the state's conditional dismissal program. It will expunge the crime from his record if he is not charged with another disorderly persons offense within a year of admission.

The voice mail at Gonzalez's Sewell home was full Monday, and his attorney did not return a request for comment.

- Michael Boren