Vincent Bernotas

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

On October 10, 2024, Sergeant Vincent Bernotas struck two parked vehicles with a police vehicle. He failed to activate his body-worn camera, did not report the collision to Central Dispatch or the Chief of Police as required, and left the scene without checking the damage or notifying the owners. Bernotas retrieved cleaning supplies and tried to remove evidence from the patrol vehicle before reporting the collision about 16 minutes later. He approved a false crash report and was untruthful with Internal Affairs investigators. The Bordentown City Police Department terminated Bernotas.

Synopsis as reported by the agency

On Thursday, October 10th, 2024, Sergeant Vincent Bernotas was operating a police vehicle when he struck two parked vehicles. He failed to activate his BWC as is required by department policy. He failed to report the collision to Central Dispatch immediately, as is required by department policy. Sergeant Bernotas failed to report the collision to the Chief of Police as is required by department policy and left the scene of the collision incident without checking on the damage to the vehicles he struck, and without attempting to notify the owners of the vehicles. Sergeant Bernotas went to Hope Hose Humane Co., entered the firehouse, retrieved cleaning supplies, and attempted to remove evidence of the collision from the patrol vehicle before reporting the same, and before any investigating officer could observe the damage to the patrol vehicle. Sergeant Bernotas then contacted Central Dispatch to report the collision, approximately 16 minutes after it had occurred. Sergeant Bernotas summoned his subordinate to the scene and provided an account of what occurred, which did not include his cell phone use at the time of the collision as a contributing factor. Sergeant Bernotas’ subordinate generated an NJTR-1 that Sergeant Bernotas later reviewed and approved, knowing it to be false. Sergeant Bernotas completed a Supervisor’s Incident Report and an email of his account to the Chief of Police. Both failed to disclose Sergeant Bernotas’s cell phone use at the time of the collision. The reports provided a contradicting account of the events, where Sergeant Bernotas stated that he was watching a subject up and to the left of his position, and the BWC footage clearly shows him interacting with his cell phone screen down and to the right when the motor vehicle collision occurred. During an Internal Affairs Interview, Sergeant Bernotas was untruthful with Investigators and withheld pertinent information regarding the matter, including providing his subordinate with a false account of the motor vehicle collision, and further approving the police report submitted by his direct subordinate, the investigating officer, which was completed based on the fabricated account of events that he previously provided.

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

On September 23, 2023, Sergeant Vincent Bernotas, while on duty, improperly tried to access the closed City Hall building. After several perimeter doors were locked, he attempted to manipulate a kitchen door lock with a folding tool, pulled forcibly on the door, and pried at a metal plate over the locking mechanism with a metal sign post, causing damage. The repair cost was $1,680.00. The Bordentown City Police Department suspended Bernotas for 7 days and issued a written reprimand.

Synopsis as reported by the agency

On September 23, 2023, Sgt Vincent Bernotas while on duty improperly accessed the City Hall building when it was closed. Sergeant Bernotas called his subordinate, Ptl. Craig Conk to meet him at the facility to see the status of improvements being made to the future police station. City Hall was closed at the time and Sgt. Bernotas attempted to first gain entry to the building by trying several of the perimeter doors which were locked. He then attempted to gain access through the kitchen are doors by manipulating the door lock using a folding knife or tool. When unsuccessful he then pulled forcibly on the door using his full body weight in an attempt to force the door open with his foot braced against the building and pulling with all his might. He further attempted to pry away a metal plate that was mounted over the locking mechanism of the door (to prevent tampering) using a metal street sign post that was on scene and caused damage to the door and metal plate. Sgt. Bernotas was still unable to gain access through the door and then kicked the door plate several times forcibly in an attempt to put it back in place. The cost of the repair of the damage caused by Sgt. Bernotas' conduct was $1,680.00.