Two New Jersey police chiefs — one suspended, the opposite retired — have been charged on Wednesday with abusing their authority by committing sex-related crimes involving ladies who labored of their departments.
The circumstances are unrelated, however Matthew J. Platkin, the state’s legal professional normal, introduced them collectively at a information convention to ship a message to the general public and to those that work in legislation enforcement.
“The folks of New Jersey and the members of our police departments, particularly our many feminine officers, deserve police leaders who serve and defend, not prey on those that are much less highly effective than they’re after which attempt to cowl it up,” he stated.
Chief Thomas Herbst of Manville, who was suspended final 12 months, was charged with sexual assault, official misconduct and different counts for what Mr. Platkin described in a information launch as “a yearslong sample of sexually predatory conduct concentrating on a number of ladies.”
From 2008 to 2021, Mr. Platkin stated, Chief Herbst had frequently groped, uncovered himself to, sexually harassed and sexually assaulted a division worker who reported on to him. He additionally assaulted a second division worker and sought intercourse from the spouse of an officer in alternate for favorable therapy for the officer, Mr. Platkin stated.
Chief Herbst, 55, was arrested early Wednesday and launched after making an preliminary courtroom look. His lawyer, James Wronko, stated his consumer denied the costs and “had by no means engaged in nonconsensual or coerced or pressured sexual exercise with anybody.”
The retired chief, Andrew Kudrick, who stepped down from his job main the Howell Township Police Division final 12 months, was charged with official misconduct, retaliation in opposition to witnesses, and different crimes in reference to a sexual relationship with a subordinate that he tried to cowl up after his spouse turned suspicious.
Mr. Kudrick’s lawyer, Robert A. Honecker Jr., stated his consumer, too, denied the accusations and “intends to vigorously defend himself in opposition to these expenses.”
“Falling into political disfavor doesn’t make you a felony,” Mr. Honecker stated.
The investigation involving Chief Herbst started final 12 months after the lady whose accusations are on the coronary heart of the felony expenses filed a lawsuit in opposition to him. He denied her allegations within the go well with and sued her for defamation, Mr. Wronko stated.
Chief Herbst was subsequently suspended with pay. Mr. Wronko stated he anticipated that because of the felony expenses, the chief would stay suspended however with out pay.
In accordance with the Manville Police Division web site, Chief Herbst joined the power in 1991, turned a lieutenant in 2005 and rose to his present submit in October 2020. Manville, with a inhabitants of about 11,000, is roughly 70 miles west of Manhattan.
Chief Herbst started to harass and assault the lady he’s accused of abusing for 13 years after he turned a lieutenant, in accordance with an arrest warrant. The primary assault occurred when he blocked her from leaving an workplace and masturbated in entrance of her, the warrant says.
The abuse escalated over time, and the chief, the warrant says, assaulted the lady at police headquarters, a motel and her residence, the place he would enter by the again door uninvited. She tried to keep away from him by closing her blinds, locking her doorways and parking within the storage so he wouldn’t know she was residence when he drove by, the warrant says.
At one level, in accordance with the warrant, Chief Herbst ordered the lady to put on skirts to work “to facilitate and escalate the assaults.”
The second lady who accuses Chief Herbst of assaulting her says he pressured her to undergo his sexual calls for whereas visiting her at a home she had simply purchased, the warrant says.
Richard Onderko, Manville’s mayor, didn’t reply to an e mail in search of remark.
The costs in opposition to Mr. Kudrick, 49, stem from an investigation that Howell Township officers opened after a confrontation between his spouse and the lady she believed he was having an affair with, Mr. Platkin stated.
In the midst of the investigation, Mr. Kudrick threatened a township police captain who knew about and had proof of the connection, Mr. Platkin stated.
On the day earlier than the captain was to be interviewed for a second time as a part of the inquiry, Mr. Kudrick threatened him with a bogus inner affairs investigation, Mr. Platkin stated.
When Mr. Kudrick was interviewed as a part of the investigation, he lied about making sexual feedback to, receiving express images from and having an intimate relationship with the subordinate, Mr. Platkin stated. Proof confirmed that the affair occurred, in violation of township coverage, Mr. Platkin stated.
Mr. Kudrick had been a member of the township division for 32 years, the final seven as chief, when he retired in March 2022.
Howell Township, with a inhabitants of about 52,000, is roughly an hour south of Manhattan close to the Jersey Shore. The mayor, Theresa Berger, didn’t reply to an e mail in search of remark.
Supply: NY Times