A Jersey City official chasing a mayor’s seat is suddenly on the hot seat himself after newly released bodycam footage showed him trying to muscle his way out of a DUI arrest — and spilling jaw-dropping personal details along the way.
Phillip Orphanidis, a high-ranking city employee who’s running to become mayor of West Orange, was reassigned this week after the humiliating video surfaced. In the footage, he repeatedly leans on his job title and connections while officers deal with the aftermath of a crash involving his Cadillac SUV.
“I’m the f–king deputy chief of staff of Jersey City,” Orphanidis tells officers before he’s eventually cuffed for refusing to follow directions and put into a police vehicle.
One officer fires back with a brutal reality check: “You can be the f–cking president, you’re still drunk.”
Orphanidis insists he only had “two drinks” and keeps denying he’s intoxicated — even as officers describe him as “heavily intoxicated,” according to the video.
At multiple points, he name-drops “Steve,” appearing to reference then-Mayor Steven Fulop, and demands officers call the city’s public safety director “right now.” He also complains about the police department as if he’s the one in charge.
“We hired all of you,” he tells an officer. “We hired more cops than any other f—king administration. It’s not fair and you know it!”
Then the encounter takes an even messier turn.
In a rambling moment caught on camera, Orphanidis tells officers his marriage is in shambles and claims he cheated on his wife with “two women.”
“My wife hates me. I f–king cheated on her and she f–king hates me, bro,” he says in the footage.
He later suggests the arrest is political payback tied to Fulop’s unsuccessful run for governor, complaining about the timing and calling the situation “bulls–t.”
Orphanidis’ behavior reportedly continued at the police station, where he refused to take a breathalyzer test and argued that elected officials typically get special treatment.
“If I’m any county politician in Jersey City, then I get f–king off,” he says. “If I’m any elected official in the state of New Jersey that f–king does this, I get off.”
Orphanidis was charged with assault by auto, driving under the influence, refusal to submit to a chemical test, driving with an expired license, and driving without insurance. He’s scheduled to appear in court later this month.
Despite the video and the charges, his campaign for mayor of West Orange — a township of roughly 50,000 people about 12 miles west of Manhattan — appears to be moving forward. He reportedly posted online this week that he’s still canvassing and building support, though his X account has since been set to private.
Jersey City Mayor James Solomon’s administration said it has launched an expedited review with an independent law firm to examine possible abuse of power and misconduct shown in the footage.
Meanwhile, Orphanidis has been reassigned from his role as assistant director of community development to animal care and control while the investigation plays out. He’ll reportedly keep earning his $103,000 salary.
As of Wednesday morning, calls to Orphanidis were not returned.
This is a case where an elected official SHOULD BE held to a higher standard of conduct, not try & weasel his way out of it !