Bergen Cops Drove Drunk, Ignored Call To Find Suicidal Man: NJ Study

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Bergen County cops failed to secure guns, abused sick leave, drove while drunk and ignored a woman's plea to find her suicidal ex-husband — who was later found dead, according to new analysis of state law enforcement discipline.

These cases were detailed in the Attorney General's "Major Discipline" 2022 report — which covers statewide terminations, demotions and suspensions statewide — released Wednesday.

"(This) release of information reflects our... commitment to increased transparency and accountability in the policing profession," Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.

"We know that achieving greater public safety in New Jersey requires greater public trust."

Bergen County saw 22 "major discipline" cases last year. Twelve of those came from the sheriff's department, placing it among the top 10 agencies for major discipline, the data show.

Bergen County's remaining disciplines were issued by municipal police departments including Englewood, Little Ferry and Lodi.

Data also show the number of major discipline cases in Bergen County nearly doubled in just one year. In 2021, the county saw just 11 disciplinary cases.

Patch reached out to the agencies referenced and had received only one response (from Oradell) as of the time of publication.

Here are the local cases of note.

'Accelerated Himself Into A Laundry Machine' | Englewood Police Department

An Englewood cop caught driving under the influence was hauled into a Teaneck station house where he had a strange encounter with its laundry machine, according to the report.

Patch does a lot of decoding of official language, but even we can't figure out what it means that Lt. Gregory Martin "accelerated himself into a laundry machine," as the study states he did.

Martin also lied about arresting officers who found him passed out in his car, saying they'd smashed his head into a wall, the study notes.

Security footage later disproved this statement, the report said.

Martin pleaded guilty to Driving While Intoxicated in July 2022 and was subsequently fired.

Twelve Disciplines | Bergen County Sheriff's Department

Guns, sick leave and cellphones spelled trouble for 11 officers disciplined in the Bergen County's sheriff department. The twelfth was found driving intoxicated, the study shows.

Officer Joseph Campolattro was suspended for 90 days after he was found intoxicated behind the wheel and refused to submit to chemical tests, the report shows.

A lieutenant and an officer were suspended for 10 days for failing to secure, or "safeguard," their firearms.

Two other officers faced 10-day suspensions for violating the agency's sick-leave policy.

Another officer was suspended 130 days for leaving his patrol post multiple times without permission, according to case reports.

Five other officers failed to properly conduct security checks and were found in possession of their cellphones inside the secured area of the jail, reports said.

Failing To Act | Little Ferry Police Department

A sergeant was suspended six days for failing to act on a report of a missing suicidal man found dead two days later, according to the case summary.

Sgt. Demetrius Dacres ignored a woman's report and "multiple red flags" indicating that her missing ex-husband was suicidal, the report states.

Police only started the search when the victim's brother filed a report the following day, officials said. Not long afterward, the man's body was found along a river bank.

Chief James Walters declined to comment.

Untruthfulness | Lodi Police Department

Details are scant on why Capt. Theresa Gillo was demoted three ranks, fined and had 39 charges levied against her, but the charges themselves suggest she neglected her duty in a significant way.

The Internal Affairs case opened Jan. 21, 2021, saw investigators checking GPS, security footage and phone recordings to track whether Grillo was where she was supposed to be.

It closed with charges that include neglect of duty for going AWOL, misuse of a department vehicle for personal reasons, conduct unbecoming of an officer and falsification of pay vouchers, according to the report.

No appeal was filed.

Improper Use | North Arlington Police Department

A sergeant was demoted and suspended 10 days for improper use of a departmental computer, a case summary said.

Reporting For Duty | Oakland Police Department

An officer was suspended 10 days for reporting to work even though he had just tested positive for COVID-19 in violation of police health protocols, according to the case summary.

Leaving The Scene | Oradell Police Department

An officer was suspended seven days for leaving the scene of an "at-fault" motor vehicle crash, the case report said.

"The Oradell Police Department will not be commented on the discipline of Officer (Joseph) Lardinelli," police Lt. Victor Egg said in a statement. "Officer Lardinelli retired in 2022 unrelated to the incident."

Conduct Unbecoming | Ridgefield Boro Police Department

A Ridgefield cop tried to bribe a woman $2,000 not to tell that they'd had a sexual relationship that began when she called the department for help, according to the report.

Security footage caught Officer Daniel Fugnitti carrying a box full of cash into a Days Inn where he hoped to pay off the woman — a female patient he'd helped on a medical call on May 29, 2020, the report said.

Fugnitti was fired on Jan. 24, 2022, for conduct unbecoming of a police officer.