Bridgewater Cop Named In New ‘Major Discipline’ Report Released By NJAG Office

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The New Jersey Attorney General's Office publicly released all the names of New Jersey police officers who were subject to "major discipline" in 2024 — and a police officer with Bridgewater Township police is on that list.

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.

Bridgewater Township Officer Matthew Hoelzel was suspended for 10 days(5 unpaid days and 5 vacation days forfeited) in 2024 for "Rules and Regulations: Standard of Conduct, Obedience to laws, Impartiality, Release of Information."

The officer used his mobile data terminal in his marked patrol vehicle and ran a New Jersey License plate via NJCJIS which returned to a name he recognized. He then shared that information with an unauthorized person, according to the report.

Additionally, the 2024 report shows that six Somerset County agencies had a total of 12 officers subject to "major" discipline: one from Bridgewater Township Police, five from Franklin Township Police, one from North Plainfield Police, one from Raritan Police, one from Somerset County Department of Corrections, two from Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, and one from Somerset County Sheriff's Office.

Franklin Township

• Franklin Township Officer James Boylan was suspended for four days in 2024 for "Unauthorized vehicle pursuit and multiple rule violations," read the report.
  • "On March 15, 2022, Officer James Boylan was charged with several infractions related to an unauthorized vehicle pursuit which he initiated. These infractions included initiating a vehicle pursuit not in accordance with the Attorney General Guidelines, failing to activate an audible siren during a vehicle pursuit, failure to notify Central Command of the pursuit, failing to advise an arrestee that they were under arrest, failing to handcuff and properly search an arrestee, which resulted in the discovery of a loaded magazine, and failing to operate his body worn camera (BWC) and mobile video recorder (MVR) according to departmental policy. On Feb. 9, 2024, Officer Boylan plead guilty to the above charges and was suspended for 42 working hours and forfeited 84 hours of accrued non-FLSA compensatory time."
• Franklin Township Officer Christopher Long was suspended for 30 days in 2024 for "Prohibited activity on duty and multiple rule violations" read the report.
  • "On Oct. 9, 2023, Officer Christoper Long was charged with several infractions related to inappropriate behavior towards a crime victim. These infractions included engaging in activity not related to his official duties by providing his personal cellular telephone number to a crime victim to pursue a personal relationship, failing to operate his body worn camera (BWC) and mobile video recorder (MVR) according to departmental policy, and failure to complete a Victim Notification Form for the crime victim who was reporting an indictable offense. On Jan. 31, 2024, Officer Long plead guilty to the above charges and was suspended for 30 calendar days."
• Franklin Township Officer Ashley Ramos was suspended for five days in 2024 for "Multiple Rule Violations" read the report.
  • "On April 12, 2024, Officer Ashley Ramos was charged with several infractions related to her involvement in an off-duty motor vehicle crash. These infractions included being unprofessional to the other involved driver, failing to take appropriate action in a police matter, failure to notify the highest ranking on-duty supervisor that she was involved in a motor vehicle crash and that she identified herself as a police officer while off-duty, leaving the scene of an accident, and not contacting the police after being involved in an accident. On Oct. 23, 2024, Officer Ramos plead guilty to the above charges and was suspended for 5 working days."
• Franklin Township Officer Kenneth Reid II was suspended for 28 days in 2024 for "Criminal Mischief Domestic Violence, Multiple Rule Violations" read the report.
  • "On Aug. 7, 2023, Officer Kenneth Reid II was charged with multiple infractions. These
    included domestic violence criminal mischief that damaged shared property, failing to notify a supervisor that he was unfit for duty, failure to update the department with his current address, failure to report an accidental discharge of a firearm while off-duty (occurred in 2017), displaying his firearm to someone not in accordance with the law, and handling a firearm unsafely on at least three occasions. On March 25, 2024, Officer Reid II plead guilty to the above charges and was suspended for 28 days and forfeited 117 vacation hours."
• Franklin Township Officer Marcus Rountree was teminated in 2024 read the report.
  • "On May 22, 2024, Officer Marcus Rountree was terminated for unsatisfactory performance during his probationary period. Performance evaluations revealed that he did not achieve at least average marks in several key areas, including: accepting responsibility, adapting to change, interpersonal relationships and demeanor, demonstrating honesty, ethics, and integrity, performing at a grade level above or in a leadership role, applying policies, directives, rules, and regulations, and possessing knowledge of the NJ Criminal Code, Title 39, and Township Ordinances. Despite ongoing supervision and feedback, Officer Rountree failed to demonstrate improvement in these areas. Notably, on Dec. 23, 2023, Officer Rountree mishandled a domestic violence incident by failing to include critical details in the written report and influencing the victim to alter their initial statement in a way that prevented the aggressor's arrest. Additionally, he did not comply with departmental policy regarding the operation of his body-worn camera. On Jan. 14, 2024, Officer Rountree failed to appropriately manage a domestic violence call. He neglected to make a mandatory arrest of the alleged assailant and did not request medical attention for the victim, who reported being in pain. Additionally, he submitted falsified documentation by deliberately excluding pertinent information. During the subsequent internal affairs investigation, Officer Rountree was found to have been untruthful in conversations with an Assistant Prosecutor, a Judge, a patrol supervisor, and internal affairs personnel. He also failed to activate his mobile video recorder and misused his body-worn camera during the incident. Furthermore, on Feb. 14, 2024, Officer Rountree was found to have been untruthful with a superior officer when describing his handling of a domestic violence incident."

North Plainfield Police

• North Plainfield Police Officer Raymond Zarsuela was suspended for 10 days in 2024 for "8.2.28 Failure to comply with the Chief's orders, directives, regulations (2 counts); Violation of GO-04-03 Use of Force policy section B2(e); Violation of GO-04-03 Use of Force policy section B3(f)" read the report.
  • "On November 11, 2023 Officer Raymond Zarsuela became engaged in a physical confrontation with a suspect during a domestic violence investigation after the suspect spit at Officer Zarsuela. Officer Zarsuela threw three punches at the suspect, striking him at least once in the head and face area. Officer Zarsuela was found to have utilized unauthorized / excessive physical force. 10-Day suspension imposed."

Rartian Police

• Raritan Police Officer Andrew Ragati was suspended for 4 days in 2024 for "Failure to abide by department rules and regulations; Truthfulness" read the report.
  • "An investigation was conducted in regards to Officer Ragati's use of sick and bereavement time off. A review of all evidence pertaining to the allegations revealed Officer Ragati failed to abide by several rules, regulations and department procedures and directives governing police officers, including the use of scheduled time off. Officer Ragati violated the Raritan Police Department Code of Ethics because he was not truthful when providing reasons for using time off throughout the investigation. The sustained finding occurred in 2023 but the charge was negotiated as part of an agreement that was settled in 2024. The agreement was settled prior to the incident being heard by a hearing officer. As a result, Officer Ragati received a 4 day suspension without pay."

Somerset County Department of Corrections

• Somerset County Department of Corrections Officer Steven Paladines was suspended for 60 days in 2024 for "Unauthorized Absence / Neglect of Duty" read the report.
  • "Subject cited for unauthorized use of FMLA Time."

Somerset County Prosecutors Office

• Somerset County Prosecutors Office Sergeant Kathryn Kutepow was demoted in 2024 for "1 General Order; 3 Rules & Regulations" read the report.
  • "Det. Kutepow was demoted for unfavorable conduct stemming from failing to report a personnel issue and an unprofessional conversation with another employee within the workplace."
• Somerset County Prosecutors Office Captain Randy Sidorski was demoted and suspended for 33 days in 2024 for "1 General Order; 1 County Policy; 4 Rules & Regulations" read the report.
  • "Lt. Sidorski was demoted and suspended for 33 days for workplace harassment, personal
    interest, and unfavorable conduct stemming from harassment, failing to report a personnel issue and failing to recuse himself from a personnel matter in which he had a personal connection."

Somerset County Sheriffs Office

• Somerset County Sheriffs Officer Alex Rossman was suspended for 30 days in 2024 for "3:1.25/Conduct Towards Other Officers, 3:3.2/Subversive Conduct, 3:1.17/Truthfulness" read the report.
  • "On Dec. 18, 2023 while on duty and in a public setting Officer Rossman verbally
    confronted a fellow officer by engaging in conversation disparaging her religion and using derogatory terms. Officer Rossman was subsequently suspended without pay for 30 working days and was required to undergo sensitivity training."

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.

— With reporting by Eric Kiefer

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