Major discipline · 2023[1]
Suspended 20 days- Rank as reported
- Officer
- Sustained charge(s)
- (a)(7) ; (a)(12) : Violation of Department Policies and Procedures – P.S.CUS.002 Firearms Violation of Department Rules and Regulations – 3:4.12 Handling of firearm / Loss of firearm
- Separated while IA pending
- not reported
Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)
Officer Kelly Rouse received a 20-day suspension from the Essex County Department of Corrections in 2023. According to the record, on October 20, 2022, Rouse left his fully loaded department-issued weapon, with hollow point ammunition, in the bathroom of University Hospital in Newark. Rouse also failed to notify the department while abandoning his post to retrieve the weapon. Sustained charges included neglect of duty and a firearms handling violation.
Synopsis as reported by the agency
On Wednesday October 20, 2022 Investigator Charles reported that Officer K. Rouse left his fully loaded departmental issued weapon with hollow point ammunition, in the bathroom of University Hospital located at 150 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ. Additionally, Officer Rouse failed to notify his department while abandoning his post to respond to Rutgers headquarters to retrieve his weapon.