Medford Superintendent of Schools Joseph Del Rossi has been arrested on drunken-driving charges, police said.
Evesham police Sgt. Joseph Friel said Del Rossi’s Jeep turned over on Sunday, Feb. 26 around 10:30 p.m. Del Rossi wasn’t injured, and the Jeep is owned by the school district, he said.
Friel would not divulge Del Rossi’s blood-alcohol level.
He said Del Rossi told police he swerved to avoid a deer on Sagemore Drive.
Officials said Del Rossi was not injured.
Medford Mayor James “Randy” Pace said he believes Del Rossi should take a leave of absence until the matter is resolved.
“I think it’s unfortunate,” Pace said, noting it is a personnel matter.
“It looks bad,” he said. “Quite frankly, real bad.”
Pace said it looks particularly bad because Del Rossi participated in a recent event at Shawnee High School urging students to resist alcohol and drug use.
“The less he’s in the public eye the better,” Pace said.
He said that if Del Rossi does not voluntarily step aside, he hopes the school board puts him on administrative leave.
Del Rossi was not available for comment.
On April 12, there will be a hearing on the matter in Evesham municipal court.
