23 Union County Cops Named In New ‘Major Discipline’ Report Released By NJAG Office

UNION COUNTY, 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 23 police officers with 11 Union County police agencies are 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.

The 2024 report shows that 11 Union County agencies had a total of 24 officers subject to "major" discipline: one from Berkeley Heights Police, five from Elizabeth Police, one from Hillside Police, one from Kean University Police, three from Linden Police, one from Mountainside Police, three from Plainfield Police, one from Rahway Police, four from Roselle Police, three from Scotch Plains Police, and one from Union Township Police.

Berkeley Heights Township

• Berkeley Heights Former Police Chief Jason Massimino resigned in 2024 before any disciplinary action was taken for "three counts of 3:1.1 Standards of Conduct, three counts of 3:2.2 Unlawful Orders, three counts of 3:7.16 Prohibited Activity on Duty, and four counts of 3:13.5 Truthfulness," read the report.
  • "Former Berkeley Heights Police Chief Jason Massimino was investigated by the Union County Prosecutor's Office, which resulted in multiple sustained findings related to his demeanor and various rule violations. The investigation revealed that he spread false stories to defame the qualifications of others, adversely affecting both the Berkeley Heights Police Department (BHPD) and personnel from the Union County Prosecutor's Office (UCPO), with the intent to damage their reputations, specifically regarding their roles as instructors at the police academy. Additionally, he encouraged and promoted acts of violence, including encouraging an employee to assault another employee. Additionally, he obtained a Master's Degree through coercion, deception, and plagiarism, having BHPD personnel complete papers and assignments on his behalf. Furthermore, he improperly used police personnel to conduct personal business by assigning them to work during their duty hours and altering their schedules to assist him with his ventures, compensating them with BHPD funds for their assistance."

Elizabeth Police

• Elizabeth Police Officer Lamar Boone was suspended for 60 days in 2024 for "Failure to perform duties, Inability to perform duties; Conduct Unbecoming a Public Employee," read the report.
  • "Officer Boone, on several occasions, failed to notify dispatch that he completed his
    assignment and was available for service. He was observed sitting in his vehicle during a high-visibility assignment. Officer Boone, in a separate incident, failed to activate his BWR upon acknowledging an assignment and unnecessarily delayed his response to his assignment."
• Elizabeth Police Sergeant Rodney Dorilus was terminated in 2024 for "Conduct Unbecoming a Public Employee; Fitness for Duty," read the report.
  • "Sgt. Dorilus was sustained for harassment under domestic violence. Furthermore, he was
    found to be unfit for duty to perform the duties of a police officer by a licensed psychologist. On April 26, 2024, the hearing officer in this matter concluded that all charges brought against Sgt. Dorlius by the City of Elizabeth be sustained and he was subsequently terminated from his position."
• Elizabeth Police Sergeant Jorge Farinas was charged with "Providing False Statement; Conduct Unbecoming a Public Employee," read the report.
  • "Sgt. Farinas entered into a contractual agreement to provide security services to a private
    business, in violation of SORA. Sgt. Farinas' statements to the Internal Affairs Division of the Elizabeth Police Department were less than candid with regard to the services being provided, as well as his knowledge of SORA. Sgt. Farinas was bypassed on the NJ Civil Service Commissions Eligible/Failure Roster for the Jurisdiction City of Elizabeth Police, Titled Police Lieutenant, Symbol PM4761D which expires on March 1, 2026."
• Elizabeth Police Officer AB Fontanez was terminated in 2024 for "Conviction of a crime; Conduct Unbecoming a Public Employee," read the report.
  • "Ofc. Fontanez entered into PTI after pleading guilty to indictable crimes under New Jersey
    Criminal Code, specifically, 2C:24-4A(2) Endangering Welfare of a Child, 2C:29-3B(4) Hindering Apprehension, 2C:28- 4B(1) False Reports to Law Enforcement, 2C:33-17A Availability of Alcoholic Beverages to Minors. As a condition of the PTI by Order of Forfeiture of Employment, Fontanez forfeited his public office as a law enforcement officer with the Elizabeth Police Department and is forever barred from holding any public office or position of trust under the State of New Jersey."
• Elizabeth Police Officer Alexander Salazar was terminated in 2024 for "Drug Test Failure; Conduct Unbecoming of a public employee," read the report.
  • "On Nov. 30, 2023, Trainee Alexander Salazar submitted to a mandatory random drug test while attending the John H. Stamler Police Academy. On Jan. 18, 2024, the results of the test were received, and Salazar tested positive for illegal substances not listed in his medical sheet. Salazar did not request a hearing within the required timeframe and was terminated on Feb. 22, 2024."

Hillside Police

• Hillside Police Officer Fazion Rock was suspended for four days in 2024 for "Violations of: Department rule 3:4.1, Release of Information; Rule 3:4.2 Department Records; HPD Domestic Violence Policy; Title 4A:2-2.3(a)6," read the report.
  • "Officer Rock was suspended for 43 hours (4 shifts) without pay for showing video of a DV
    simple assault to two individuals who were friends of the victim. The individuals were not law enforcement personnel, nor did Officer Rock have a legitimate law enforcement-related purpose for sharing the video. This incident occurred in 2023. The appeal process concluded in 2024."

Kean University Police

• Kean University Police Police Recruit Jeffery Parker Jr. voluntarily resigned/separated from employment in 2024 for " Positive Drug Screening," read the report.
  • "Police Officer Recruit Jeffery Parker Jr. was dismissed from the John H. Stamler Police
    Academy on July 28, 2024, following a positive result for amphetamines on a pre-employment drug screening. After his dismissal, Mr. Parker Jr. was demoted to the rank of Security Officer pending an internal investigation. Mr. Parker Jr. then voluntarily resigned/separated from employment with the Department of Public Safety on Oct. 4, 2024. Mr. Parker Jr. has been entered into the Central Drug Registry as a result of his positive drug screening."

Lindan Police

• Linden Police Officer Laron Capers was suspended for 90 days in 2024 for "Insubordination, Conduct Unbecoming a Public Employee (LEO)," read the report.
  • "In March 2023, Officer Capers admitted to repeatedly lying to his direct supervisor in regards to cell phone usage. He also admitted to sharing confidential police reports with unsworn civilians on various dates. Additionally, contradictory statements were made to investigators in subsequent interviews. Capers served a recordable suspension on the record for 90 working days, which is held in abeyance."
• Linden Police Officer Michael Mikolajczyk was suspended for eight days in 2024 for "Chronic and excessive absenteeism, unauthorized absences," read the report.
  • "On Dec. 27, 2023, Feb. 21, 2024, and Feb. 22, 2024, Officer Michael Mikolajczyk called out sick from his duty shift without having enough accumulated time to cover his absence from work."
• Linden Police Officer Peter Mitros was suspended for eight days in 2024 for "Conduct Unbecoming a Public Employee (LEO)," read the report.
  • "In September 2023, Officer Peter Mitros made inappropriate comments and threats in an
    online portal after identifying himself as a law enforcement officer. Specifically, threats to kill the indivudal and his family."

Mountainside Police

• Mountainside Police Corporal Nicholas Hussey was demoted in 2024 for "Insubordination/Disobeying An Order," read the report.
  • " On June 11, 2024, Corporal Hussey refused to respond to a dispatched assignment where he
    was detailed to transport a mental health screener to aid a citizen having a mental health crisis. Corporal Hussey refused this lawful order two additional times after it was restated and reinforced by senior ranking officers."

Plainfield Police

• Plainfield Police Officer Christian Brown resigned in 2024 for "Off Duty Conduct," read the report.
  • " An Internal Affairs investigation was conducted in relation to Officer Brown's off-duty
    conduct. Officer Brown, while off-duty, allegedly engaged in a physical altercation with a tow truck driver. At the time of Officer Brown's resignation, the Internal Affairs investigation was still pending."
• Plainfield Police Officer Hassan Edwards was suspended for 113 days in 2024 for "Performance of Duty," read the report.
  • "Officer Hassan Edwards was charged with 2C:20-4-Theft by Deception, a third-degree crime. Officer Edwards created a false impression that he was entitled to relief from Federal Government's Paycheck Protection Program. He submitted a program application and a purported tax form stating he operated a business entitled to relief when no such business existed. After receiving $20,495 from the program, he submitted another application for loan forgiveness stating that the money received had gone to pay expenses for the fictitious business. Officer Edwards was suspended on April 15, 2024, pending the outcome of criminal charges. On Sept. 19, 2024, Officer Edwards resigned after PTI acceptance.
• Plainfield Police Officer John Evans was suspended for 35 days in 2024 for "Chain of Command/Performance of Duty/Obedience to Laws, Ordinances, Rules and General Orders/Managing Sick Leave," read the report.
  • "Officer John Evans was suspended for 280 hours for abusing sick time."

Rahway Police

• Rahway Police Sergeant Amber Fontanella was suspended for 14 days in 2024 for "Demeanor, Body Worn Camera Violation," read the report.
  • "On July 8, 2023, while serving as the ranking supervisor on duty at Rahway Police
    Headquarters, Sergeant Fontanella engaged in an unrecorded conversation with a member of the public who had approached the front window seeking a police escort. During the exchange, Sergeant Fontanella responded to the citizen’s request by stating that all officers were occupied and advised the citizen to “tell whomever you spoke to to hire more cops.” This interaction was not recorded as required due to her failure to activate her body worn camera (BWC), in violation of departmental policy and the Attorney General’s Body Worn Camera Directive. Sgt. Fontanella later acknowledged the statement in a written email. In addition, during separate BWC-recorded incidents on the same date, Sgt. Fontanella made unprofessional comments where vulgar and inappropriate language was used. Her conduct constituted violations of civil service regulations addressing incompetency, inefficiency, and failure to perform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee, and other sufficient cause, as well as statutory grounds for the suspension of police officers. Furthermore, she violated Rahway Police Department policies including rules governing courtesy, general conduct, supervisory responsibilities, and mandatory use of body worn cameras. These violations collectively demonstrated a failure to uphold the standards expected of her position. Although the incident occurred in 2023, the appeal process concluded in 2024."

Roselle Police

• Roselle Police Officer Eric Borrero was suspended for 20 days in 2024 for "Conduct Unbecoming, Intoxication Off-Duty which Negatively Affects the Department, Intoxication Off-Duty and Arrested, Obedience to Laws," read the report.
  • "Officer Borrero was involved in an off-duty motor vehicle crash in 2022. Subsequent investigation revealed that he was intoxicated at the time of the crash. He was later convicted for driving while intoxicated and was given a 20-day suspension as a result of the incident."
• Roselle Police Officer Ulises Infante resigned in 2024 for "Conduct Unbecoming, Loyalty to the Department, Obedience to Laws, Failure to Satisfy Debts, Involved in a Crime of Moral Turpitude, Repeated Violations of RPD Rules, Neglect of Duty," read the report.
  • "Officer Infante was observed with an illegal license plate distorter on his personally owned
    vehicle. Subsequent investigation revealed that he was using the distorter to avoid receiving toll violations. In addition, when initially asked about the distorter, Officer Infante was not truthful about its origin or his reason for being in possession of the device. He later resigned in lieu of termination."
• Roselle Police Officer Steven Ortiz was suspended for 28 days in 2024 for "Loyalty to the Department, Performance of Duty, Insubordination, Obedience to Regulations, Knowingly Making False Entry into Department Record, Conduct Unbecoming, Refusal to Obey Order from a Supervisor, Neglect of Duty," read the report.
  • "Officer Ortiz failed to follow an order from a supervisor when he refused to report for a
    mandated patrol overtime shift. In addition, he provided false information to the supervisor when he indicated he was too far from home to report for the shift, when in fact he was at his residence within Roselle at the time of the conversation. He was given a 28 day suspension as a result of the incident."
• Roselle Police Officer Herve Vilaire was suspended for 15 days in 2024 for "Vehicular Pursuit Policy Violations, Neglect of Duty, Unsafe Operation of Vehicle, Failure to Follow Motor Vehicle Laws," read the report.
  • "Officer Vilaire was given a 15-day suspension for engaging in a vehicular pursuit that was
    not compliant with numerous conditions set forth in the vehicular pursuit policy. His transgressions included operating the vehicle in a reckless manner, failure to follow motor vehicle laws, and a failure to maintain activation of emergency lights and sirens during extended portions of the pursuit."

Scotch Plains Police

• Scotch Plains Patrolman Donte Joyner was terminated in 2024 for "Tardiness," read the report.
  • "Officer Joyner showed up between 45 minutes and 1 hour and 15 minutes late for work. This
    was Officer Joyner's 5th offense for tardiness. Officer Joyner voluntarily resigned pending termination."
  • He was previously suspended for five days for "Tardiness." "Officer Joyner showed up 44 minutes late to his scheduled overtime shift on Aug. 4, 2024, after being contacted by the supervisor's phone. This was Officer Joyner's 4th offence."
• Scotch Plains Patrolman Rolando Rodriguez was suspended for five days in 2024 for "Sleeping on duty, neglect of duty and BWC violation," read the report.
  • "On July 30, 2024, Officer Rodriguez was involved in a single-car motor vehicle accident in a
    marked police vehicle which resulted in damage to private property. When the incident was looked into it was discovered that Rodriguez's BWC activated from the impact of the accident which captured 30 seconds prior to the accident which shows Rodriguez fully reclined in the front seat of his patrol vehicle out of frame. The flash from an alarm can be seen and then Rodriguez begins to sit up and put the vehicle in drive. He subsequently struck a sign in the church parking lot. GPS data was obtained through county dispatch showing that Rodriguez had been parked in that spot for 1 hour and 15 minutes, and 2 other spots for 1 hour and 22 minutes and 1 hour and 35 minutes. Rodriguez's BWC was not on his person in the patrol car."

Union Township Police

• Union Township Officer Marco Penetra was suspended for 15 days in 2024 for "N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3(a)6 Conducting Unbecoming a public employee 1.4.1 V.A.7 Obedience to Laws and Rules," read the report.
  • "Officer Penetra had inappropriate relations with another person while on duty, specifically
    leaving his assigned post to meet up with this individual in his personal vehicle. Upon meeting up with the individual, Officer Pentera engaged in an act of physical intimacy. On a second occasion, while on duty, Officer Penetra engaged in texting the same individual explicit photos of himself."

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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