Ex-cop accused of killing NJ woman had troubled history, was fired from NYPD

The former NYPD officer accused of killing his ex-girlfriend in Bergen County before throwing himself in front of a subway train had a troubled history during his time on the force, court records show.

That ended with a firing for misconduct after Arthur Lomando’s 10-year career with the force. That history is recounted in a judge's ruling after the 44-year-old Long Island resident and 10-year NYPD veteran unsuccessfully sued for reinstatement. His goal was to retire with an ordinary disability pension after reporting a he had mental health problems.

Friday, Lomando was still in critical condition, NJ.com reported an NYPD spokesman had said.

The former New York City police officer is accused of using a machete to murder his ex-girlfriend, Suzanne Bardzell, in Midland Park. He lost both of his legs after jumping in front of a subway car in New York, Eyewitness News reports.

Arthur Lomando’s legs were both amputated above the knee, the report said. He is expected to survive.

Bardzell had been a special education teacher in Teaneck, according to reports.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office has not yet returned a call by New Jersey 101.5 seeking comment.

According to the decision in his lawsuit against the NYPD, between July and October of 2000, Lomando was involved in three separate incidents of misconduct.

On Dec. 15, 2000, the NYPD issued four charges and specifications against Lomando for refusing a sergeant's order to sign a notification form for an overtime detail, making false statements to a sergeant that he was on scheduled vacation for an overtime detail when he was not, insubordination, and a 15-minute minute unauthorized absence from his assignment.

In December of that year, Lomando was placed on modified duty, the decision states. The next May, another charge was added — misconduct for making false and misleading statements during an official department investigation, it states.

On Nov. 11 of 2011, Lomando was placed on restricted duty following complaints he suffered from depression, and he was monitored by the NYPD's psychological evaluation unit, the decision states.

In 2001 and 2002, Lomando pleaded guilty to two of the charges, and was found guilty of the other three. As a penalty he was set to be dismissed from the NYPD and sacrifice 40 days of vacation time, though that penalty was to be held in abeyance for a year while he was placed on probation, according to the decision.

He applied for ordinary disability in September of 2003, saying his depression, insomnia and fatigue made him unable to perform his duties, but a department psychologist deemed him fit.

The next month, Lomando reported sick for psychological reasons, the decision states. He was again interviewed by the psychological unit and a department psychologist, and investigated by the NYPD's Absence Control and Investigations Unit. Shortly after, the decision states, he was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, and a Medical Board of the Police Pension Fund approved his application for retirement for an ordinary disability.

The NYPD also investigated whether Lomando worked an off-duty job as a delivery driver while on sick leave in 2003 — saying he couldn't perform his duties — according to the decision. Based in part on those findings, then-NYPD commissioner Raymond Kelly to approve firing Lomando in July 2004.

Lomando had argued his firing was in bad faith — meant to keep him from the disability retirement he'd qualified for. But the police department argued he'd lied about working another job while on probation and modified assignment. The judge ruled in the NYPD's favor.

The full lawsuit is below:

Lomando Suit