Officer Charged With Stealing From Police Union

File Photo

  BRIELLE – A borough police officer was charged with taking more than $700 from the expense account of the local police union, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

  Michael W. Palmer, Jr., 33, of Wall Township, is charged with one count of third degree Theft by Unlawful Taking. If convicted, he faces up to five years in a New Jersey state prison.

  Charges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.

  An investigation determined that he allegedly made ATM cash withdrawals from the Brielle Policemen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 395, while serving as their treasurer between January and June of this year. These were determined to be for personal reasons.

   “We will continue to hold law enforcement officers accountable for their actions. Bad cops will be weeded out as their unlawful or improper actions are discovered. Mr. Palmer betrayed the trust of his fellow officers and the public at large – this is inexcusable. Mr. Palmer is not a typical example of our law enforcement community. Our law enforcement is made up of genuinely good people whose only interest is serving the community,” said Prosecutor Gramiccioni.

  Palmer worked as a Brielle police officer since Dec. 1, 2018, where he earned $105,383 a year. He is currently suspended without pay pending the adjudication of both the criminal and administrative proceedings.

  “This is of a very sad situation, but it is as equally disappointing. When any officer engages in this type of conduct, he/she violates the trust and integrity of the community in which they have sworn to protect and serve, and also violates the trust and integrity of their co-workers. Police Officers are always held to higher standard, and here in the Brielle Police Department, that standard is even higher,” said Brielle Chief of Police Gary J. Olsen. “It is essential that we, as police officers, always do the right thing in order to maintain public confidence in the police department, and in this case specifically, we must also maintain the rank and file’s confidence in the administration of the department. We owe it to our residents, and I owe it to my officers. We must communicate to them that this type of behavior is unacceptable, and it will never be tolerated.”