Major discipline · 2022[1]
Suspended 67 days- Rank as reported
- Police Officer
- Sustained charge(s)
- Separated while IA pending
- not applicable (collected 2023 and later)
Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)
Police Officer Anthony Spagnola was suspended for 67 days by the Kean University Police Department in 2022 for neglect of duty. The department reported that on June 15, 2021, Spagnola collided with a pedestrian crossing sign while operating a police vehicle and failed to report it; the damage was not discovered for more than two months. In a second incident, he left his police bag, containing a loaded off-duty weapon, unattended in his personal vehicle; the bag was stolen, and his firearm, ammunition, and badge were not recovered.
Synopsis as reported by the agency
On or about June 15, 2021, Officer Anthony Spagnola collided with a pedestrian crossing sign while operating a Kean University police vehicle in the course of his regular job duties. Officer Spagnola failed to report the collision and resulting damage to the vehicle, in violation of department policy and procedure. The specific details of the accident were not uncovered until department administrators discovered the damage to the vehicle more than two (2) months after the accident occurred. 2nd Incident On or about August 25, 2021, Officer Anthony Spagnola returned home from working his shift and left his police bag unattended in his personal vehicle parked outside his home. The bag contained Officer Spagnola’s fully loaded off-duty weapon and spare ammunition. The bag also contained Kean University department-issued equipment, including a Kean University officer badge, baton, traffic vest, radio charger, ticket book and tourniquet. Shortly after his arrival home, thief/thieves stole Officer Spagnola’s police bag from his personal vehicle. Though a subsequent police investigation resulted in locating the stolen bag, it did not contain all its original contents. Specifically, Officer Spagnola’s University-issued police badge and his personal off-duty firearm and ammunition were not recovered. Officer Spagnola’s reckless carelessness resulted in a loaded weapon and spare ammunition being removed from his control, allowing them to potentially be used to pose grave danger to the community at large.