Major discipline · 2023[1]
Separated while IA pending- Rank as reported
- Officer
- Sustained charge(s)
- Hoboken Police Department Rules and Regulations: Failure to conduct a proper, thorough, and complete investigation; Failure to thoroughly search for, collect, preserve, and identify evidence; or person’s property, and locations, in any arrest or investigation; Failure to take appropriate action concerning illegal activity, including vice conditions and/or make a written report of the same to a commanding officer; Repeated Violations of departmental Rules & Regulations; . New Jersey Administrative Code Violations: or Failure to Perform Duties; .
- Separated while IA pending
- Yes
Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)
Officer Matthew Isler separated from the Hoboken Police Department while an internal affairs matter was pending in 2023. Dispatched after a business owner reported a person using drugs in front of the business, Isler walked past the individual without stopping him. The reporting person told Isler the man had narcotics and paraphernalia, but Isler did not detain him and allowed him to leave. Isler was under a Last Chance Agreement at the time and resigned before discipline, which would have been termination.
Synopsis as reported by the agency
Officer Isler was dispatched to a local business after the business owner reported that there was an individual in front of the business actively engaged in using drugs. Officer Isler responded to the location and met with the caller. Before meeting with the caller Officer Isler walked past the individual that had reportedly been using drugs and did not stop him in order to conduct his on-scene investigation. It was immediately apparent that the male was impaired or otherwise emotionally disturbed however Officer Isler insisted that the male was not impaired in any way. Officer Isler's assessment was inaccurate and was not corroborated by the Body Worn Camera. The reporting person also reported to Officer Isler on the scene that the male was in possession of narcotics and narcotics parapernalia. Officer Isler failed to immediately detain the suspect and waited for him to get some distance before deciding to follow him. While Officer Isler followed the suspect, he intentionally stayed behind him and made no real effort to stop and detain the male. Officer Isler allowed the suspect to leave the scene with no intervention. Officer Isler grossly neglected to take official action when needed. It should be noted that Officer Isler was the subject of a Last Chance Agreement at the time of this incident and in light of such resigned prior to the administration of discipline; which would have been termination.