5 Edison Cops Paid For Extra Jobs They Didn't Work: Prosecutor

EDISON, NJ — Five Edison Township Police officers received pay for extra-duty jobs they did not actually perform, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey said on Friday.

Sergeant Ioannis (John) Mpletsakis, 38, Patrolman Paul Pappas, 43, Patrolman James Panagoulakos, 32, all of Edison Township, Patrolman Gregory Makras, 33, of Cranford, and Sergeant Brian Rossmeyer, 41, of Bedminister, all face two charged of official misconduct and theft by unlawful taking, Carey said. All five have been suspended without pay.

According to Carey, the five officers charged all received pay for extra-duty "side jobs" within the department, despite not actually performing those jobs. Extra-duty jobs are volunteer assignments that include directing traffic for utility companies and providing security for local businesses and residential communities. Police officers have full police responsibilities while working these side jobs.

Side jobs are assigned at the discretion of "several different individuals within the department," Carey said. Officers can make over $100,000 a year from side jobs alone, in addition to their base pay and overtime.

Carey blasted the Edison Township officials for the way side jobs are assigned within the department, saying there was not enough oversight.

"Any police officer who knowingly got paid for an off duty-job they did not do, is guilty of malfeasance. Edison township officials, however, are responsible for allowing a system of fiscal irresponsibility to exist," Carey said. "The assignment of extra-duty jobs being handled by multiple individuals with very little oversight, paired with an inadequate system of accounting, has directly resulted in nepotism and corruption."

Chief Thomas Bryan declined to comment on the arrests specifically, but said the fact arrests took place showed the department "took appropriate action."

"We alerted the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office about those concerns and detectives from our Professional Standards Bureau worked closely with the county to investigate these matters. We continue to cooperate with the prosecutor’s office as this investigation proceeds," Bryan said.

Three of the officers have been with the department for over a decade: Mpletsakis for 16 years, Pappas for 14 years, and Rossmeyer for 11 years. Panagoulakos has been with the department for 4 years, Makras for 7 years.

This is not the first time Mpletsakis and Pappas have faced discipline.

Mpletsakis was fired from the force in 2005 after fleeing a car crash while naked. A judge later ruled the punishment was too harsh, and he was reinstated. Read More: 3 Promoted Edison Police Officers Had Been Disciplined For Nudity

Pappas is currently facing charges that he used official police resources to stalk his ex-girlfriend. He is also accused of slashing his ex-girlfriend's car tires while on duty. He was suspended without pay from the department following that arrest. Read More: Edison Cop Stalked Ex-Girlfriend: Prosecutor

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