7 Jersey City Officers Who Faced 'Major Discipline' ID'd By AG

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Seven Jersey City Police Officers were identified as being subject to major discipline in the second half of 2020. The Jersey City Police Department had to report the names and incidents to the Attorney General, who released the names and agencies of officers who were fired, demoted or suspended five or more days from June 15, 2020 to the end of the calendar year.

One officer, out of the seven named, was terminated by the department, according to the report.

In June, former Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal gave all New Jersey law-enforcement agencies two months to publicly release certain disciplinary info. The directive came after the New Jersey Supreme Court authorized the public release of such info on a going-forward basis.

"Today, New Jersey takes an important step forward, joining the majority of U.S. states that disclose the identities of law enforcement officers found responsible for engaging in serious disciplinary violations," said Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck. "We are releasing this information not to shame or embarrass individual officers, but to provide the same type of transparency and accountability in policing that New Jersey mandates in other essential professions."

The Jersey City officers who were disciplined, and the incident is listed below, as it is listed on the AG's site:

• Police Officer Gicella Sanchez
  Terminated: Yes Demoted: No Suspended: Yes # of Days Suspended: 109 Description: Police Officer Gicella Sanchez lost a total of 109 days for violating JCPD Rules and Regulations for; Criminal Acts and Conduct and was terminated. FNDA: Issue date 10/05/2020
• Lieutenant Michael Timmins
  Terminated: No Demoted: No Suspended: Yes # of Days Suspended: 90 Description: Lt. Timmins lost a total of 90 days for violating JCPD Rules and Regulations for ; Conduct, Mishandling of a Firearm, Intoxicants Off Duty. Lt. Timmins negligently discharged a firearm while off duty and on his personal property. FNDA: Issue date 06/15/20
• Sergeant Tarance Bryant
  Terminated: No Demoted: No Suspended: No # of Days Suspended: 20 Description: Sgt. Bryant lost a total of 20 days accrued time for violating JCPD Rules and Regulations for ; Equipment, Conduct and Traffic Laws. Sgt. Bryant was responding to a call for service traveling at a high rate of speed. FNDA : Issue date 08/25/2020
• Police Officer Andrew Parra
  Terminated: No Demoted: No Suspended: Yes # of Days Suspended: 20 Description: Police Office Andrew Parra lost a total of 20 days for violating JCPD Rules and Regulations for ; Obedience to Laws, Regulations and Orders and Conduct. P.O. Parra was involved in a Domestic Violence incident. FNDA: Issue date 09/08/2020
• Police Officer Maria Decristofaro
  Terminated: No Demoted: No Suspended: Yes # of Days Suspended: 122 Description: Police Officer Decristofaro lost a total of 122 Days for violating JCPD Rules and Regulations for; Conduct, Neglect of Duty and Truthfulness. FNDA: Issue date 09/16/2020. Resignation effective 09/17/2020.
• Lieutenant Daniel Coyle
  Terminated: No Demoted: No Suspended: No # of Days Suspended: 20 Description: Lt. Daniel Coyle lost a total of 20 days accrued time for violating JCPD Rules and Regulations for; Conduct and Intoxicants Off Duty . Lt. Coyle was arrested for DWI and other traffic violation. FNDA: Issue date 11/19/2020
• Police Officer Michael O'Neill
  Terminated: No Demoted: No Suspended: No # of Days Suspended: 25 Description: Police Officer Michael O'Neill lost a total of 25 days accrued time for violating JCPD Rules and Regulations for; Failure to Perform Duties and Conduct after failing to submit an MVA report as required. FNDA: Issue date 09/23/2020

According to the New Jersey Monitor, reformers are pointing out the scarce details in the reports and the New Jersey OPRA Blog pointed out a discrepancy in old reports filed by the department compared to the reports filed to the AG.

This story includes reporting from Josh Bakan.