Former New Brunswick Sgt. Given Probation for Mishandling IA Complaints

A former New Brunswick Sergeant who was indicted on charges of mishandling 81 Internal Affairs complaints over five years while he oversaw the department was sentenced to two years probation today in New Brunswick, according to a report on mycentraljersey.com.

Richard Rowe was suspended without pay from the New Brunswick Police Department on March 21, 2011 after it was discovered that internal affairs documents were missing.

An audit of the Internal Affairs department revealed that Rowe knowingly recording false information regarding 81 investigations between 2003 and 2007, recording incomplete investigations as closed or investigated when they were not, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

Some of the documents in those 81 investigations were also removed, concealed or destroyed, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

He was charged with tampering with public records or information and obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function.

Rowe was making $123,202 annually at the time of his suspension. He resigned from the force later that year, according to NJ.com.

His removal from the department also started a new review process for Internal Affairs complaints. The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office can now review all complaints before they can be closed.

On Monday, Judge Bradley Ferencz said he believed Rowe's record was otherwise "pristine", according to the mycentraljersey.com report.