New ‘Major Discipline’ Report For Belleville, Nutley Police Released By NJAG Office

BELLEVILLE-NUTLEY, NJ — The Belleville and Nutley police departments had multiple "major discipline cases" that were included in a new report from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

On Monday, the state AG office released its annual Major Discipline Report, which lists details for hundreds of police officers in the state. The report covers the period from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024.

According to the attorney general’s office, “major discipline” is defined as terminations, reductions in rank, or suspension of more than five days. Pending cases are not included in the data set.

The latest report lists the following cases for the Belleville Police Department:

• An officer was suspended for 10 days on a charge of conduct unbecoming a public employee after allegedly using profane language towards a citizen and failing to display courtesy and civility. In a separate case, the same officer was suspended for 20 days on a charge of insubordination after allegedly refusing a direct order to submit a required internal report from a training supervisor. No termination or demotion took place, the AG office reported.
• An officer allegedly failed to appear for duty on multiple occasions while assigned to the police academy. The officer resigned from his position in lieu of departmental charges, the AG office reported.
• A lieutenant was suspended for seven days after allegedly failing to "take immediate action" while being present during a comment made about sexual status between two subordinate officers. No termination or demotion took place, the AG office reported.
• An officer was suspended for 15 days on charges of violating sick leave policy and insubordination. The officer was allegedly found not at his home while on sick leave without making the appropriate notifications to a supervisor. No termination or demotion took place, the AG office reported.

The latest report lists the following cases for the Nutley Police Department:

• An officer was suspended for eight days after allegedly making a "variety of unprofessional remarks" while assisting with an investigation. The officer also made a statement implying that a superior officer had a diminished mental capacity, and deactivated his body worn camera prior to the incident's conclusion. No termination or demotion took place, the AG office reported.
• A sergeant was suspended for 120 days in connection with two separate incidents. According to the report, an on-duty sergeant was accused of making statements portraying women in a negative light while talking to a friend who was applying for a TRO against his girlfriend. He claimed the statements were made solely in an attempt to cheer up his friend. During a separate incident, the sergeant allegedly "engaged in an argument in connection with an individual with a TRO he was assisting in obtaining personal items from his residence." The township retained an independent hearing officer, who concluded that the sergeant's statements were unprofessional, but the evidence "strongly outweighed any claim that he is biased against women." In addition to the suspension, the sergeant was required to undergo counseling/therapy. No termination or demotion took place, the AG office reported.

According to statewide statistics, there were 644 major discipline actions taken by 172 police agencies against 543 officers in New Jersey last year. The most frequently occurring offenses were related to attendance, including lateness and call-outs too close to the start of a shift.

Attorney General Matthew Platkin said that the vast majority of New Jersey’s police officers risk their own safety to protect others and to serve their communities. These officers “conduct themselves with honor and courage,” he said.

“Publicly releasing this data about the handling of disciplinary matters helps maintain the public’s trust in those dedicated, hardworking men and women of law enforcement,” Platkin said.

• See Related: Belleville Swears In New Officers, Promotes 'Dedicated' Detective Sergeant
• See Related: Nutley Cop Earns ‘Volunteer Of Year’ Award For Youth Mentorship
• See Related: Belleville Officer, Police Chief Earn Honors For ‘Outstanding’ Work
• See Related: Nutley Cops, Residents Show Guts During Passaic River Rescue

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