Long Branch Officer Charged With Vehicular Homicide Still On Duty

LONG BRANCH, NJ - A city police officer charged with drunk driving and vehicular homicide in the death of a Stanhope victim is still on duty, according to a report on nj.com

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said Jake Pascucci, a detective who has been a member of the Long Branch police force since 2014, is working in a "support capacity."

Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said Pascucci is not on patrol.

"There is other work for an officer to do," he said. "There are rules and this has been run by the labor counsel."

The state Attorney General's internal affairs procedures states that an employee can be suspended if they have been charged with a first, second or third degree crime.

"The decision whether or not to continue to pay an officer who has been suspended pending the outcome of an investigation rests with the law enforcement executive and appropriate authority, who should carefully consider all ramifications of these choices," the policy states.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office is handling the case because of conflict Pascucci has with the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Pascucci was also charged with reckless driving and careless driving in addition to the DUI and vehicular homicide charges.

Karen Borkowski, 66, of Stanhope, was crossing Ocean Boulevard at the intersection with Broadway in Long Branch around 8:15 p.m., when she was struck by Pascucci's 2016 Jeep Cherokee, according to authorities.

Pascucci told police he had a green light and that Borkowski was jaywalking, according to dashboard camera video from police at the scene, obtained by NJ Advance Media through the state's Open Public Records Act (OPRA).

Pascucci's Jeep had severe front end damage from the accident. He has a Dec. 12 court date and faces between three to five years in prison.

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Photo: Long Branch Police Department