New Jersey police officer discipline Tag Archives

Published on: October 31, 2025

New Jersey Employment Law Decision Examines Rights of Police Officers Facing Discipline in Non-Civil Service Jurisdictions

An appeals court recently issued an opinion in the case of Hand v. Borough of New Providence, examining the rights of New Jersey police officers facing discipline in non-civil service jurisdictions

Background

The opinion explained that Michael Hand was a corporal with the New Providence Police Department, with thirteen years of service. On May 17, 2019, he was eating dinner with his wife at a diner during a meal break when a call came for him to respond to a domestic incident. Another officer, Patrolman Lunch responded. Plaintiff texted Lynch and his supervisor to see if they needed him but they did not respond, so he did not go. The supervisor, Sergeant Diamond, who was not called, terminated a traffic stop to respond when he saw on GPS that Hand was not responding. At the scene, a juvenile experienced a mental health crisis and the situation escalated; Diamond called Hand on the radio and Hand then responded 13 minutes after the original call.

Published on: May 17, 2021

New Jersey Employment Law Decision Examines Ramifications of Settlement of Police Officer Disciplinary Charges

by Maurice W. McLaughlin

Police officer discipline has significant ramifications under New Jersey employment law, whether the officer is in a civil service or non-civil service police department. These extend beyond the ramifications of discipline for other public and private employees in New Jersey. The police-1714956__340-300x200 Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court recently examined some of these ramifications in its opinion in the case of Gilbert vs. Warren County Prosecutor.

Background

Jefferey C. Gilbert was a police officer with the Mansfield Township Police Department, a non-civil service jurisdiction. He settled department disciplinary charges arising from alleged misconduct during a DUI investigation. Gilbert accepted a six day suspension without pay to resolve all the disciplinary action against him, with the provision that the record of the discipline would remain in his personnel file and could be used as evidence if he received future disciplinary charges for the purposes of progressive discipline.

Published on: September 17, 2020

New Jersey Employment Law Decision Examines Procedures for Appealing Discipline of State Troopers

by Maurice W. McLaughlin

A recent New Jersey employment law decision in the case of Matter of Shyner examined the procedures available to New Jersey State Troopers to appeal employer imposed discipline, and the standards which appellate courts will utilize to review disciplinary decisions by the Superintendent of New Jersey State Police.

The Shyner Case.

Dawn Shyner was a lieutenant in the New Jersey State Police. In 2014 she called 911 because of an altercation with her estranged husband; local police responded. No charges were filed, nor was a domestic violence restraining order sought. In accordance with New Jersey State Police protocols, she notified her supervisor and surrendered her weapon. During that meeting her supervisor told her that he did not believe the incident would result in a domestic violence investigation, although undoubtedly an ordinary internal affairs investigation would ensue.