8 Monmouth Co. Corrections Officers Faced 'Major Discipline'

Freehold NJ

10 August, 2021

4:29 PM

Description

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — Eight Monmouth County Corrections officers were subject to major discipline between June 15, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2020, according to the New Jersey Attorney General's Office. For the first time ever on Tuesday, the Attorney General publicly released all names of New Jersey police officers who were subject to major "discipline", which is defined as police officers who were terminated, demoted, or suspended for more than five days. The list was published in compliance with the Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive 2021-6, issued by former Attorney General Gurbir Grewal two months ago, after a New Jersey Supreme Court decision authorized the public release of certain police disciplinary information. The law change is meant to be more transparent with the public, to let the public know how their tax dollars are being spent and also to improve police-community relations. "Today, New Jersey takes an important step forward, joining the majority of U.S. states that disclose the identities of law enforcement officers found responsible for engaging in serious disciplinary violations," Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said. "We are releasing this information not to shame or embarrass individual officers, but to provide the same type of transparency and accountability in policing that New Jersey mandates in other essential professions." Eight Monmouth County Corrections were subjected to major discipline, according to the report. None were terminated or demoted, but all faced suspension periods ranging from 10 to 180 days. Here is the list: CCPO Thomas Ricchiuti — Suspended for 180 days for a violation of departmental firearms policies and procedures.CCPO Stephanie Welch — Suspended for 10 days for leaving post early without being properly relieved.CCPO Douglas Facendo — Suspended for 10 days for leaving post early without being properly relieved.CCPO Brian Feinstein — Suspended for 30 days for unauthorized use of cell phone in a secured area.CCPO Warren Kocurek — Suspended for 30 days for unauthorized use of cell phone in a secured area.CCPO Paul Gaofola — Suspended for 180 days for unauthorized use of cell phone in secured area and supply misuse.CCPO Amanda Atkinson — Suspended for 60 days for improper communication with an inmate and allowing horseplay.CCPO Amos Osborne — Suspended for 30 days for time and attendance policy violations and for unauthorized absence. The full report is available for the public to view here. Going forward, agencies will be required to release this information on an annual basis, shortly after the end of the calendar year.