23 Middlesex County Cops Got Suspended, Fired, or Resigned in 2023, State Says
By TONY GALLOTTO,
2024-08-06
The NJ Attorney General’s Office released its “Major Discipline Report” for 2023, detailing hundreds of New Jersey law enforcement officers suspended, demoted, fired, or forced to resign. It includes 23 from Middlesex County police agencies. Credits: Al Sullivan
MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — Two county corrections officers were fired, two police officers were required to resign, and 19 cops were suspended from duty from police departments here in 2023, according to the NJ Attorney General’s Office .
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has, for a fourth year, released details about hundreds of New Jersey police officers who got suspended, demoted, fired, or forced to resign across the state in 2023 based on departmental and/or criminal charges.
The latest 375-page “ Major Discipline Report ” is part of Platkin’s effort to increase transparency and provide more public information. The new report – from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2023 – details 538 discipline cases, with 402 law enforcement officers suspended, 59 terminated or resigned, and eight demoted in rank. Click on this NJ Attorney General’s website to see complete details.
Most of Middlesex County’s police disciplinary actions were for violations of department policies and rules; and some sworn officers in the county were sanctioned for criminal or other serious accusations. From the state report, here are Middlesex County’s police disciplinary actions:
● DUNELLEN POLICE
A borough police sergeant got suspended for 15 days for “sleeping on duty” at police headquarters; and a borough patrolman was suspended for 20 days for repeated violations of department policies.
Department brass suspended Officer Amitoj Oberoi after he was criminally charged in an off-duty Somerset County accident that killed two people. Oberoi has pleaded guilty and faces up to 15 years in state prison.
● MIDDLESEX COUNTY CORRECTIONS
Two correction officers were temporarily suspended for neglect of duty; one agreed to resign on departmental charges of incompetence and/or neglect of duty; and two others were fired for alleged repeated or serious incompetence and/or neglect of duty incidents.
● NEW BRUNSWICK POLICE
One police officer was suspended for 60 days for “neglect of duty” departmental charges.
● NORTH BRUNSWICK POLICE
Officer Dimitrious Katsoulis remains suspended without pay based on a NJ Superior Court judge’s order, after being indicted by an Ocean County grand jury for alleged stalking and violating a court order.
● OLD BRIDGE POLICE
A police captain was suspended for 140 days and demoted to sergeant on departmental charges for disobedience; improper conduct toward superiors and subordinates; and alleged harassment.
● PERTH AMBOY POLICE
A police officer was suspended for 30 days for “conduct unbecoming” based on an alleged “domestic violence incident,” and for that officer’s reported failure “to take appropriate action” during that incident.
● PISCATAWAY POLICE
Patrolman Alan Barboiu was suspended for 45 days for insubordination. According to the report, on Sept. 29, 2021, Barboiu was advised by a supervisor not to touch a female employee in his attempt to demonstrate a claim made by a reported victim regarding a criminal sexual contact investigation. Barboiu disregarded the supervisor’s order and did so anyway. On June 16, 2023, a decision made by a hearing officer affirmed the charges and upheld the 45-day suspension.
● SAYREVILLE POLICE
A police officer was suspended for 12 days for “conduct unbecoming” after he was reportedly found “idling or loafing” on the job.
● SOUTH BRUNSWICK POLICE
A police sergeant was suspended for 10 days for neglect of duty, and was required to use up his accrued vacation and “comp time” before he retired at the end of 2023. Another police sergeant received a 30-day suspension for engaging in “horseplay” by pointing his taser at a commanding officer during a union meeting.
● SOUTH RIVER POLICE
A borough police officer was suspended for 20 days on department charges for reportedly violating department policies, procedures and standards.
● WOODBRIDGE POLICE
Two police officers were suspended without pay; one for five days for misuse of his sick days. A second officer was suspended without pay for 20 days on departmental charges of “conducting unbecoming,” after got arrested for an off-duty fight in Ocean City, Md. Criminal charges against Manente in Maryland were ultimately dismissed.
Woodbridge Officer Michael Cifelli, hired in 2015, agreed to resign. Cifelli was indicted three times on criminal charges; in 2017 and twice in 2021, according to the state report. He was suspended without pay after the 2017 indictment and entered a plea deal with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, agreeing to resign. Cifelli pleaded guilty to third-degree charges of endangering the welfare of a child, the report said.
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