Major discipline · 2025[1]
Demoted- Rank as reported
- Lieutenant
- Sustained charge(s)
- (a)1-(a)6-(a)7. PD RR: 6:1.6(k); 6:2.23; 6:2.26; 6:2.27; 6:2.28; 6:2.236
- Separated while IA pending
- No
Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)
Hoboken Police Department reported that Lieutenant Michael Costello, III was demoted in 2025. After another police agency reported a possible shooting homicide in Hoboken, Costello failed to take critical steps to properly investigate and doubted the report despite its law enforcement source. That delay slowed the location of the victim's remains, and Costello did not ensure mandatory notifications were made in a timely manner, leaving division commanders unaware of the report.
Synopsis as reported by the agency
Following a report from another police agency of a possible shooting homicide that reportedly took place in Hoboken it was determined that Lt. Costello failed to take critical steps to properly investigate the report. The investigation revealed that Lt. Costello (admittedly) doubted the legitimacy of the report despite it coming from another law enforcemnt agency. The lack of meaningful steps to investigate resulted in a delay in locating the remains of the victim and thus delaying the investigation overall. Lt. Costello also failed to ensure that mandatory notifications were made in a timely manner which resulted in division commanders not being aware of a credibly reported possible homicide within city limits.