Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)
In August 2022, Officer Baskinger violated several use-of-force core principles while attempting to arrest a suspect wanted in a stolen motor vehicle investigation, striking the subject in the head several times with a closed fist, the Passaic County Sheriffs Office reported. Baskinger resigned from the department effective August 2023.
Attorney General Guidelines Core Principle 2 - Force as a Last Resort and Duty to De-Escalate
2.3 Force as a last resort
2.5 De-escalation
2.6 Warning and opportunity to comply
Core Principal 3 – Duty to Use Only Objectively Reasonable
Necessary and Proportional Force
3.2 Considerations when using force
3.3 Level of resistance
Separated while IA pending
Yes
Synopsis as reported by the agency
In August of 2022 Officer Baskinger, while assigned to the Patrol Division violated several use-of-force core principles in the attempt to arrest a suspect wanted in a stolen motor vehicle investigation. in the course of attempting to gain control of the subject Officer Baskinger struck the subject in the head several times with a closed fist. Officer Baskinger resigned from the Department effective August 2023.
Compensation and pension
No confident pension match found. This officer's record shows they resigned, retired, transferred, or otherwise separated from this agency while an internal affairs matter was pending, which can affect whether a current PFRS/SPRS record exists here. 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. See methodology for how these matches are made and what is withheld.
Similar records
AnalysisComputed by this site from shared agency, year, charge category, and sanction outcome. Not a legal or factual equivalence.
Brian Weitzman · Passaic County Sheriff's Department · 2023
Separated while IA pending
Sustained charge(s): 2c:20-3A
same agency · same year · similar sanction outcome
Ryan Rios · Passaic County Sheriff's Department · 2023
Suspended 10 days
Sustained charge(s): 4A:2-2.3(a) 4. Chronic or excessive absenteeism or lateness, 4A:2-2.3(a) 11.72 Excessive Absenteeism, 4A2-2.3 (a) 11.15 Repeated violations…
same agency · same year
Ryan Rios · Passaic County Sheriff's Department · 2023
Suspended 60 days
Sustained charge(s): 4A:2-2.3(a) Conduct Unbecoming a Public employee, 4A2-2.3(A) 11.14 Failure to recognize and satisfy debts negatively affects the…
same agency · same year
Mujahed Deeb · Passaic County Sheriff's Department · 2023
Suspended 1 days
Sustained charge(s): Core Principal 2- Force as a Last Resort and Duty to De-Escalate, 2.2 Prohibitions on certain force, 2.5 De-escalation, VI. Unauthorized…
same agency · same year
Marqus Morel · Passaic County Sheriff's Department · 2023
Suspended (days not reported)Separated while IA pending
Sustained charge(s): 4A:2-2.3(a) Truthfulnes
same agency · same year
Questions and answers
What is a summary of Matthew Baskinger's major discipline record?
In August 2022, Officer Baskinger violated several use-of-force core principles while attempting to arrest a suspect wanted in a stolen motor vehicle investigation, striking the subject in the head several times with a closed fist, the Passaic County Sheriffs Office reported. Baskinger resigned from the department effective August 2023.
What is Matthew Baskinger's major discipline record at Passaic County Sheriff's Department?
Matthew Baskinger has one major discipline record at Passaic County Sheriff's Department in the New Jersey Attorney General's 2020-2025 releases, from 2023. These are final, adjudicated actions, not allegations.
Does Matthew Baskinger's record show a termination?
The major discipline records shown here do not report a termination for Matthew Baskinger at Passaic County Sheriff's Department.
How does Passaic County Sheriff's Department score on this site's report card?
This site's report card places Passaic County Sheriff's Department in the second-highest fifth of its peer group on reported internal affairs volume and discipline severity. The grade is analysis by this site, not an official rating, and it describes the department, not Matthew Baskinger individually.
Sources
[1]New Jersey Major Discipline Data, 2020-2025. New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Sheet "Major Discipline Data", row 1854. Snapshot retrieved 2026-07-03. ↩