Major discipline · 2025[1]
Suspended 15 days- Rank as reported
- Senior Correctional Police Officer
- Sustained charge(s)
- (a) General Causes (6) a public employee (12) HRB 84-17, as amended B2 - , loafing, idleness or willful failure to devote attention to tasks which could result in danger to persons or property B6 - Failure or excessive delay on carrying out an order which may result in danger to persons or property B8 - Serious mistake due to carelessness which may result in danger and/or injury to person or property B9 - Incompetence or C9 - : Intentional disobedience or refusal to accept order, assaulting or resisting authority , disrespect or use of insulting or abusive language to a supervisor C11 - an employee D1 - Negligence in performing duty resulting in injury to persons or damage to property D7 - Violation of administrative procedures and/or regulations involving safety and security E1 - Violation of a rule, regulation, policy, procedure, order or administrative decision.
- Separated while IA pending
- No
Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)
On February 4, 2025, Senior Correctional Police Officer Exsel Velez was assigned to New Jersey State Prison's 7UP, Unit A, and for several hours was aware of unsecured 7 Wing gates while not running showers or kiosks as ordered, the Department of Corrections reported. Velez also knew of an incarcerated person's threats against staff and did not report them. When incarcerated persons on 10-tier lit several fires, there was a 4-minute delay before he acted. He signed a settlement agreement for a 15-day suspension.
Synopsis as reported by the agency
On 2/4/25, Senior Correctional Police Officer (SCPO) Exsel Velez was assigned to New Jersey State Prison's 7UP, Unit A. An investigation revealed that for several hours SCPO Velez was aware of unsecured 7 Wing gates. He did not run showers or kiosks although ordered by his supervisors to do so. On his assigned unit, there was an unsupervised General Population Porter that had access to unsecured tiers. SCPO Velez was aware of an incarcerated person's threats against staff and did not report these threats to his supervisor. Due to his lack of attention, the incarcerated persons on 10-tier were able to erect a barrier and light several fires. Furthermore, when SCPO Velez discovered the fire, there was a 4-minute delay before he acted and he failed to call a Code 21. The investigation further revealed that SCPO Velez did not complete his Restorative Housing Unit security checks as outlined in New Jersey Department of Corrections policies. He ignored a memo from the Major's office that provided updated 7 Wing staffing and operating guidelines. SCPO Velez signed a settlement agreement on 4/8/25, for a 15-day suspension.