Cop is suspended for drug test result

Thursday, March 05, 2009
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A Jersey City police officer who was once the International Boxing Federation light-middleweight boxing champion has been suspended from the Police Department based on the results of a recent drug test, police sources said yesterday.

Officer Mark Medal won the IBF title by scoring a fifth-round technical knockout of Philadelphian Earl Hargrove in a fight at the Sands Hotel in Atlantic City carried live on CBS in 1984.

He lost his title that November to Carlos Santos in a 15-round decision at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, and finished his career with a 24-3-1 record and 20 knockouts. He is an inductee in the Hudson County Hall of Fame.

Asked about Medal's suspension, Police Chief Tom Comey said the Police Department doesn't discuss pending personnel investigations. No additional information on the drug test was available.

Medal was most recently stationed at the Jersey City Municipal Court Building.