LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP – A former Long Beach Township sergeant pled guilty to using a police computer for his own purposes.
Gerald W. Traynor, 53, pled guilty to one count of third-degree Computer Criminal Activity, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. A former sergeant, he was suspended since the date of his arrest on April 1.
During the course of an “extensive” investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Professional Standards Unit, it was found that he accessed the police computer system in April of 2018 to obtain information on an individual for personal reasons. It was also noted that he is also a practicing attorney on Long Beach Island.
In exchange for his guilty plea, the State will recommend a sentence of non-custodial probation. The plea agreement required that Traynor forfeit his current position with Long Beach Township Police Department as well as any other public employment, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:51-2. Traynor is scheduled to be sentenced on September 5, 2019.
The Press of Atlantic City reported that Traynor had a lawsuit against the department, alleging he was passed over for a promotion after telling people at a public event that the county was under-prepared for Superstorm Sandy.
