According to NorthJersey.com, the NJ Transit Police Department’s internal affairs unit is currently investigating police officers and supervisors who have been accused of padding their overtime with no-show court appearances and falsifying police reports.
According to a knowledgeable source at NJ Transit’s Police Department, an investigation is underway against patrolmen, sergeants, and lieutenants from the Newark Penn division of the transit agency’s police department. The accusations involve falsification of police reports, claiming that they were subpoenaed to attend court when they were not, and still receiving overtime pay. Some also allegedly collected overtime pay for failing to attend court appearances.
The source, who wasn’t authorized to speak to the media regarding the investigation, has requested to remain anonymous.
According to an NJ Transit spokesman, Jim Smith, he declined to comment “due to the ongoing investigation.” At the moment, the details of the investigation, including the scope, the number of individuals involved, and what triggered it, remain unknown.
According to Stuart Alterman, who is representing the NJ Transit Policemen’s Benevolent Association, a review of certain court time practices is currently underway and is expected to conclude soon.
In his statement, he mentioned that he was uncertain about the final outcome, but he confirmed that none of the officers were involved in any intentional or dishonest activity or anything that contradicts the rules and regulations.
Unfortunately, the Union representatives of the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police, responsible for representing sergeants and lieutenants, have failed to respond to our request for comment via email.
According to Dan Prochilo, the spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General, the existence of a criminal investigation cannot be confirmed or denied.
Change in policies amid review
According to a source, the supposed scheme occurred mainly in 2021, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, as certain courts started to hold virtual appearances. This virtual setting allegedly enabled individuals to manipulate and exploit the system, leading to instances being overlooked.
According to documents obtained by NorthJersey.com, NJ Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo signed several administrative orders in 2023 to reinforce the agency’s policies regarding court appearances by officers while the investigation was said to be ongoing.
“We’ve had to adapt our business practices to prioritize the health and safety of our personnel amidst the pandemic,” stated an administrative order released on February 17, 2023.
The order stated that officers who receive subpoenas from any court must respond to their district and fulfill their court responsibilities either in person or remotely via a department-issued phone or desktop computer, as has been the practice in the past. All necessary paperwork must also be completed in a timely manner. This protocol is effective immediately.
According to the order, the officer has to provide a copy of the subpoena, along with the commanding officer’s approval, a court appearance report, and a flex court report. Additionally, an administrative order from February 17, 2023, mandates that officers include a “supplemental narrative” in their court reports before submitting them to their supervisors.
According to the order, a subpoena from HQs or approval from the commanding officer is required for any court appearance to be authorized.
According to an administrative order issued on March 6, 2023, it is mandatory for officers to use their department-issued cellphone or computer for all virtual court appearances. Additionally, officers must upload a copy of the subpoena and court appearance time log and obtain approval from an on-duty supervisor before being dismissed from the duty.
According to the administrative orders, supervisors are responsible for entering court hours on time sheet reports for both virtual and in-person court appearances that they approve.
Attorney general seeks more transparency in police discipline
Starting in 2021, the Attorney General’s Office in New Jersey has taken a step towards greater transparency and accountability of police forces at the state, county, and municipal levels. To achieve this, they have started publicly reporting on internal affairs investigations that lead to significant disciplinary actions.
Last week, the 375-page report from the attorney general was released in 2023.
A police officer from the Secaucus Police Department received a 22-day suspension for submitting a false overtime slip, misrepresenting the time he worked to receive extra pay. Similarly, in 2021, another officer from the same department was suspended for 45 days for committing the same offense.
If a member of the public or press requests certain documents, such as a summary and conclusions report, they must be released under certain conditions. These conditions include instances where an officer has faced disciplinary action, such as termination or reduction in rank, or has been suspended for more than five days.
NJ Transit’s Open Public Records Act department denied a request for the internal affairs report, citing that the directive is not applicable to ongoing investigations.
