2 Essex County Corrections Officers On NJ ‘Discipline’ Report

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A pair of corrections officers in Essex County were among dozens across New Jersey named in a first-of-its-kind “discipline” report released on Tuesday.

The report publicly identifies officers who received “major discipline” between June 15, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2020. That includes terminations, demotions and suspensions that lasted for more than five days.

See the full report here.

It comes after an order from former state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal that was opposed by police unions, which argued that releasing the information would needlessly shame many officers accused of minor infractions. But according to Grewal, the move was needed to help “lift the cloak of secrecy” over the state’s police disciplinary process.

The New Jersey Supreme Court eventually ruled in favor of releasing the information.

Some police departments chose to describe the reasons for discipline with only a single sentence, or provided limited details for Tuesday’s report.

A pair of corrections officers in Essex County were among those named:

• Elie Chalet - "Officer Chalet was terminated from employment for conduct unbecoming. Officer Chalet pleaded guilty to charges of terroristic threats, aggravated assault and possession of a prohibited weapon."
• Malikah Spencer - "Officer Spencer was terminated from employment for conduct unbecoming. The officer was found to have used the Federal Family Leave Act fraudulently."

Tuesday’s report is just the beginning, according to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. Moving forward, local police departments will be required to release local information on a yearly basis.

Acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck said the move is an “important step forward,” but added that he “takes no joy” in pointing a finger at officers.

“We are releasing this information not to shame or embarrass individual officers, but to provide the same type of transparency and accountability in policing that New Jersey mandates in other essential professions,” Bruck said.

Bruck added that the vast majority of New Jersey’s law enforcement officers serve the public with honor and integrity, “doing the right thing day-in and day-out” for the communities they serve.

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