Hillsborough Police Reported No 'Major' Infractions In 2021

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — For the second time, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office publicly released all the names of New Jersey police officers who were subject to "major discipline" in 2021 — that list did not include any Hillsborough Township Police Officers.

The first list, released in August 2021, covered the second half of 2020. No Hillsborough Police Officers were listed on that report either.

The report displays the names and agencies of officers who were fired, demoted in rank or suspended for more than five days. In 2021, then-Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal's ordered all New Jersey law-enforcement agencies to publicly release certain disciplinary info. The directive came after the New Jersey Supreme Court authorized the public release of such info on a going-forward basis.

The 2021 report shows that six Somerset County agencies had at least one officer subject to "major" discipline: one from Bernards Township Police, one from Bridgewater Township Police, one from Franklin Township Police, one from North Plainfield Police, and one from Somerset County Sheriff's Office Corrections Division.

"Major discipline" is defined as police officers who were terminated, demoted, or suspended for more than five days.

Bernards Township

Bernards Township Officer David Martin was suspended for 31 days in 2021 for "violation of Bernards Township Police Department Policies and Procedures and Rules and Regulations," read the report.

Sustained charges against Martin included:

1. Reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol.
2. Conduct unbecoming a police officer.
3. Conduct toward the public.
4. Violating Township policies.
5. Failure to conduct himself with high ethical standards.
6. Failure to obey laws and rules.
7. Fitness for duty.
8. Operation of Department vehicles.
9. Violation of the Department Code of Ethics.
10. Violation of the Department Mission Statement.
11. Violation of the Employee Handbook concerning alcohol-free workplace.
12. Violation of the Employee Handbook concerning the use of Township vehicles.

Martin was also previously suspended for 55 days in 2020 on the same violation, according to the report released in August 2021.

Martin was convicted of driving while intoxicated(DWI) while on duty. Martin reportedly has since resigned from the police department.

"Same offense, suspension until ultimate resignation. They were two different reporting periods per the AG’s reporting requirements, however, the suspension was consecutive," said Bernards Township Police Chief Michael Shimsky.

Bridgewater Township

Bridgewater Township Officer Brian Shubert was suspended for 180 days in 2021 for "Truthfulness." The officer lied to supervisors when questioned and lied again during an [Internal Affairs] investigation, according to the report.

Franklin Township

Franklin Township Officer Dexter McKelvin was suspended for 60 days in 2021 for "Lacked Integrity, failed to call out sick and report for duty." The officer failed to call out sick for multiple days, according to the report.

North Plainfield Police

North Plainfield Patrolman Francis Steinhauser was fired for "Statutory Misconduct" for multiple violations of insubordination, failure to obey orders of the Chief of Police, absent without leave, according to the report.

Somerset County Sheriffs Office - Corrections Division

SC Sheriff's Officer Shane Rebuth was suspended for 7 days in 2021 for "Standard of Conduct." No other information was provided on the report.

The 2021 report also shows 17 agencies in the county had no police with major violations.

Before the New Jersey Supreme Court decision, the Garden State shielded the identities of officers disciplined or fired from the public. But days after then-Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd in May 2020, Grewal issued several directives involving police reform.

Actions included expansion of Crisis Intervention Team training, development of a statewide "Use of Force Portal" and updates to the state's use-of-force policy. New Jersey law enforcement is now banned from using chokeholds "except in the very limited situations when deadly force is necessary to address an imminent threat to life."

— Additional reporting by Josh Bakan

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