Crime & Safety
NJ Cop Accused Of Choking Out Woman Suspended, Police Chief Says
The police officer's attorney reportedly called the woman's story of his abuse "a fabrication."
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — The Morris County police officer who has been accused of harassing, stalking, and assaulting a woman has been suspended, according to his police chief.
Gregory M. Dietz, 34, is a patrol officer with the Florham Park Police Department. According to Roseland police, he was charged with second-degree aggravated assault, fourth-degree stalking, harassment, and trespassing on July 19.
Public records show Dietz was sworn in as a police officer in Florham Park in 2019, and currently roughly $103,000 a year, public records show.
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According to police records, Dietz met the Essex County woman in June 2025 when he began sending her "inappropriate messages," despite them being "just friends" and co-workers.
In November 2025, Dietz touched the woman on her backside before forcing her to sit on his lap, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
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For the next few months, Dietz would continue to reach out to the woman, asking her out and causing her "annoyance and alarm," police said.
It was on July 5 that the victim told Dietz that she wanted to stop speaking with him, and she blocked him on her phone, social media, and email, officials said.
Days later, Dietz snuck into her building and showed up at her door, uninvited, authorities said. The victim let him in to end their "friendship" in person permanently, records added.
When the woman pulled away from Dietz's attempt to kiss her, he slapped her face and began choking her with both hands until she blacked out, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
The affidavit of arrest says there were hand marks and swelling on the woman's neck.
Dietz is represented by Orange-based attorney Marco Laracca of Bio and Laracca P.C. Laracca called the accusation a "fabrication" and a "series of malicious and demonstrably false claims," in a statement to NJ.com.
On Friday, Florham Park Police Chief Karl E. Svenningsen told Patch that Dietz has been suspended without pay since the date of his arrest.
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