Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)
In 2025, the Salem County Sheriffs Office suspended Officer David Emel for 180 days. The record states Emel was involved in an off-duty DWI accident that caused property damage to a parked vehicle and was arrested and charged by local police with a DWI offense. Emel pleaded guilty in court to a DWI charge with an accident and received a six month suspension from the department to run concurrent with the suspension of his driver's license. The sustained charge was conduct unbecoming a public employee.
Synopsis as reported by the agency
Employee was involved in an off duty DWI accident with property damage to a parked vehicle. He was arrested by the local police department and charged with a DWI offense. Employee pled guilty in court a DWI charge w/ accident. He received a six month suspension from the department to run concurrent with the suspension of his drivers license
Compensation and pension
No confident pension match found. This site links a pension record to a named officer only when the name and the exact employing agency both match a New Jersey Treasury record. Where that bar is not met, nothing is shown rather than a guess. See methodology for how these matches are made and what is withheld.
Sources
[1]New Jersey Major Discipline Data, 2020-2025. New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Sheet "Major Discipline Data", row 520. Snapshot retrieved 2026-07-03. ↩