Thomas Herbst

Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)

Chief Thomas Herbst was terminated by the Manville Police Department in 2025 and suspended for 612 days; the two sanctions co-occurred. On February 13, 2025, Herbst was convicted by a Somerset County jury of four counts of official misconduct, a pattern of official misconduct, sexual assault, and criminal sexual contact. The conviction found he had subjected an employee who reported to him to unwanted sexual conduct between 2008 and 2021, solicited sexual favors from a subordinate's wife, and sexually assaulted a former subordinate. Herbst resigned the same day, and an appeal of his conviction is pending.

Synopsis as reported by the agency

On February 13, 2025 Thomas Herbst was convicted by a jury in Somerset County on several counts of official misconduct and related offenses. Specifically, he was found guilty of four counts on Offical Misconduct, one count of a Pattern of Official Misconduct, one count of Sexual Assault (all 2nd degree crimes) and one count of Criminal Sexual Conduct (4th. Degree) Chief Herbst was convicted of unwanted sexual behavior toward at least three women. The conviction revealed he regularly groped, exposed himself to, sexually harassed and sexually assaulted an employee of the police department who reported directly to him, using coercion and doing so without the victim’s consent, between 2008 and 2021. Chief Herbst's conviction revealed he had solicited sexual favors from the wife of one of his subordinate officers, in order for that officer to receive favorable employment decisions and opportunities. Chief Herbst's conviction revealed he had gone to the newly purchased home of another victim, whom had previously been his subordinate and while touring the house, sexually assaulted her. Chief Herbst conviction revealed he deliberately held onto a Manville Police badge and subsequently misrepresented himself as an active duty member of the police department. Also, on February 13, 2025 Thomas Herbst resigned his position as Chief of Police effective immediately. There is a pending appeal of Thomas Herbst's criminal conviction.

Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)

Chief Thomas Herbst was suspended by the Manville Police Department, according to a 2023 record, after being indicted for an indictable offense. The indictment included four counts of second-degree official misconduct, a second-degree pattern of official misconduct, two counts of second-degree sexual assault, and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact. The charges concerned unwanted sexual conduct toward an employee who reported to him between 2008 and 2021, soliciting sexual favors from a subordinate's wife, and assaulting a former subordinate. The number of suspension days was not reported.

Synopsis as reported by the agency

Chief Herbst was indicted for Second Degree Official Misconduct N.J.S.A. 2C:30-2a (four counts), Second Degree Pattern of Official Misconduct N.J.S.A. 2C:30-7, Second Degree Sexual Assault N.J.S.A. 2C;14-2c(1) (two counts), Fourth Degree Criminal Sexual Contact N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3b. Chief Herbst was accused of unwanted sexual behavior toward at least three women. He is alleged to have regularly groped, exposed himself to, sexually harassed and sexually assaulted an employee of the police department who reported directly to him, using coercion and doing so without the victim’s consent, between 2008 and 2021. Chief Herbst is alleged to have solicited sexual favors from the wife of one of his subordinate officers, in order for that officer to receive favorable employment decisions and opportunities. Chief Herbst is also alleged to have gone to the newly purchased home of another victim, whom had previously been his subordinate and while touring the house, sexually assaulted her. Chief Herbst is accused to have deliberately held onto a Manville Police badge and subsequently misrepresented himself as an active duty member of the police department.