Major discipline · 2025[1]
TerminatedSuspended 905 days- Rank as reported
- Officer
- Sustained charge(s)
- (a)(1) Incompetent, inefficient or failure to perform duties; (a)(6) ; (a)(7) ; (a)(12) ; Criminal charge 2C:24-4(b)(5)(a)(i) = 2nd degree : Knowingly distributed an item depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child 2C:24-4(b)(5)(b)(iii) = 3rd degree : Knowingly possessed, viewed or had under his control through any means , including the internet, items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child (a)(12) ; Violation of Department Policies and Procedures – Immediate suspension pending criminal charges.
- Separated while IA pending
- No
Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)
Correctional Police Lieutenant Gerardo Gonzalez was both suspended for 905 days and terminated by the Essex County Department of Corrections, with termination finalized in 2025. Gonzalez was arrested on duty on November 23, 2021 and charged by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. He was convicted of knowingly possessing fewer than 1,000 items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child and was sentenced to three years of probation, along with forfeiture and permanent disqualification from public employment.
Synopsis as reported by the agency
On Tuesday November 23, 2021, Correctional Police Lieutenant Gerardo Gonzalez was arrested On Duty at the Essex County Correctional Facility was arrested on duty and charged by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office(ECPO). He was later convicted of knowingly possessing fewer than 1,000 such items and was sentenced to three years of probation, along with forfeiture of and permanent disqualification from public employment. under New Jersey statutes related to possession and distribution of child exploitation material.ECPO detectives seized his cell phone and obtained a Mirandized statement in which he admitted to possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material through various apps over the course of about a year. A preliminary examination of his phone uncovered multiple illegal videos involving minors. Termination was finalized in 2025.