TOMS RIVER — Eight Ocean County law enforcement officers were listed in the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General’s 2025 major discipline report, with cases ranging from misuse of police information to a criminal conviction that led to a forfeiture of office.
The report covers discipline imposed from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025. Under state rules, major discipline includes termination, demotion or a suspension of more than five days.
In Berkeley, Patrolman Kyle Huhn resigned before discipline was imposed after a neglect of duty finding. According to the report, Huhn improperly shared sensitive law enforcement information with a third party for no police purpose. The report said the information alerted a suspect to a victim’s vehicle at a residence Huhn saw while on patrol, and the suspect then used the information in connection with a burglary, vehicle damage and assaults on residents.
Also in Berkeley, Patrolman Devon Tasso resigned before final discipline was imposed. The report said charges included neglect of duty, improper handling of a weapon, prohibited activity on duty, standards of conduct and other conduct. The case involved the improper display and use of a firearm while Tasso was in his vehicle for no law enforcement purpose.
In Jackson, Sgt. Michael Kelly was terminated after sustained charges of insubordination, conduct unbecoming, neglect of duty and falsifying a report. The report said Kelly submitted multiple inaccurate or false reports between February and October 2022 to seek overtime pay through grant funding for work as a drug recognition expert.
In Lakewood, Patrolman Joseph Mandelbaum received a six-day suspension and training, coaching or counseling after an internal investigation found insubordination. The report said Mandelbaum started a vehicle pursuit in July 2025 despite policy violations, including the reason for initiating the pursuit. The report said the pursuit conflicted with the state attorney general’s pursuit policy and Lakewood’s policy barring pursuits for minor traffic offenses.
Two other Lakewood officers were disciplined after a May 25, 2025, one-car crash. Patrolman John Pannone and Patrolman Marc Rodriguez each received 10-day suspensions and training, coaching or counseling for neglect of duty. The report said the officers encountered a crash victim outside her vehicle who repeatedly asked for medical attention but failed to provide basic first aid, despite being equipped and trained to do so.
In Plumsted, Detective Kevin Leonard resigned after being suspended without pay pending termination. The report said Leonard was found to have operated a township vehicle while off duty and was involved in a crash. The sustained charge was administrative misconduct.
In Stafford, Patrolman Austin Rauch was suspended without pay for 10 days and removed from the following year’s Detective Bureau assignment. The report said Rauch sent images of a police-owned computer screen showing police database information to people outside the department in an attempt to help them with a personal matter.
In Toms River, Patrol Officer Rebecca Sayegh was terminated after criminal charges that included third-degree burglary, third-degree criminal mischief and simple assault. The report said the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office investigated the case, which stemmed from an off-duty incident in Berkeley Township. Sayegh pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal mischief and simple assault, and a forfeiture order was entered Nov. 17, 2025, permanently barring her from serving as a police officer. Toms River terminated her the same day.
The report also listed several Ocean County agencies as having no major discipline during the reporting period, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean County Department of Corrections and police departments in Brick, Lacey, Manchester, Point Pleasant, Seaside Heights, South Toms River and other municipalities.
The 560-page statewide report covers discipline imposed from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025, and includes terminations, demotions, suspensions of more than five days and certain internal affairs violations, including excessive force, false reports, discriminatory conduct, improper searches, untruthfulness and mishandling evidence.
The state said agencies report major discipline only after a case is final and any appeals have been exhausted, meaning pending cases are not included. The Attorney General’s Office also reported that New Jersey law enforcement agencies opened more than 16,000 internal affairs investigations in 2025, stemming from more than 11,000 incidents and involving more than 10,000 officers. More than one-quarter of closed investigations ended with a sustained finding, most often resulting in oral or written reprimands.
To read the full report, click here.
