Reprimands for 13 cops 'not patrolling' Hoboken

Saturday, August 12, 2006
Jersey Journal

HOBOKEN - Thirteen members of the Police Department were reprimanded this week in the wake of a 14-month investigation that ended with the resignation of the department's highest ranking female police officer, said Chief Carmen LaBruno.

According to LaBruno, GPS tracking devices used as evidence against Capt. Karen Dimonde - who resigned last month after admitting that she wasn't showing up for her midnight-to-8 a.m. shift - proved that others on Dimonde's command were also slacking off.

"Our observations coupled with the GPS showed that a substantial number of officers were not patrolling or that their patrol patterns were inconsistent with our policy," said LaBruno, noting that there are roughly 25 cops assigned to the nighttime shift.

LaBruno said five police officers agreed to accept a three-day suspension, followed by five days of work without pay, five others were given reprimands and ordered to work without pay for one to three days, and three superiors received written reprimands.

The five officers who have accepted suspension are: Donald Rosso, William Collins, Glorybi Garcia, Ryan Dimone and Marco Grossman.

Police Officers Danilo Cabrera, Juan Madera, Leonard Cattaneo, John Cirillo and Michael Miranda have been given written reprimands and will give back various days, and Sgts. John Orrico, Anthony Pasculli and Peter Vannin received written reprimands.

Any future violations by these officers will result in them being fired, LaBruno added.

Detective Vince Lombardi, president of the Hoboken Police Officers Benevolent Association, called the disciplinary actions "severe and unwarranted."

"The officers involved were available and on patrol," Lombardi said. "The tracking system just shows that the car wasn't moving. To drive around in a police car for eight hours is physically and mentally impossible."

Lombardi had hoped the police officers would fight the administrative charges, but said they were likely intimidated by Dimonde's resignation.

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