Hoboken Police Suspensions: Attorney General Report Gives Details

HOBOKEN, NJ — The New Jersey Attorney General's Office released its Major Discipline Report Wednesday, detailing municipal and county police officers and sheriffs who had been disciplined between mid-2020 and 2022 — some for not reporting crimes, leaving their duty, or in the case of a Jersey City officer, reportedly pulling a woman's hair in a domestic dispute.

In many cases, the officers received a suspension and returned to their jobs.

Hoboken had one of the highest numbers of disciplinary actions in the report, including nine officers suspended, as well as one lieutenant and a sergeant.

Hudson County View reported in February 2023 that two officers resigned rather than accept the discipline.

"[This] release of information reflects our... commitment to increased transparency and accountability in the policing profession," Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. "We know that achieving greater public safety in New Jersey requires greater public trust."

The Attorney General's Office released specifics on the 2022 suspensions.

Here are the Hoboken suspension details as they are stated in the report released this week:

January 1, 2022- December 31, 2022

Police Officer Ricky Truppner
Terminated: No
Demoted: No
Suspended: Yes
# of Days Suspended: 120
Sustained Charge: Conduct Unbecoming Of A Police Officer
Description: Officer Truppner was suspended for 120 days after it was determined that he utilized a law enforcement database in order to obtain the name of an arrestee. He later used that information to seek a personal relationship with said arrestee.

Sgt. Robert Roman
Terminated: No
Demoted: No
Suspended: Yes
# of Days Suspended: 25
Sustained Charge: Conduct Unbecoming Of A Police Officer
Description: Sgt. Roman was suspended for 25 days for calling the NJ Suicide Hotline and telling them he was going to commit suicide. Sgt. Roman later confessed he made up the allegation in order to conduct an unauthorized test of their services.

Police Officer Mathew Isler
Terminated: No
Demoted: No
Suspended: Yes
# of Days Suspended: 180
Sustained Charge: Incompetency / Neglect of Duty
Description: Officer Isler was suspended for 180 days following an incident where he neglected his duty. The incident involved not arresting an actor responsible for having committed a robbery in the presence of the officer. Officer Isler also did not include critical details surrounding the incident in his investigation report.

Police Officer Nathaniel Arocho
Terminated: No
Demoted: No
Suspended: Yes
# of Days Suspended: 30
Sustained Charge: Insubordination
Description: Officer Arocho was suspended for 30 days for direct insubordination after failing to comply with the lawful order of a supervisor to remain on the scene of a call for service and to tend to said call for service. Officer Arocho instead left the scene and returned to headquarters.

Police Officer Anthony Rutkowski
Terminated: No
Demoted: No
Suspended: Yes
# of Days Suspended: 30
Sustained Charge: Insubordination
Description: Officer Rutkowski was suspended for 30 days for direct insubordination after failing to comply with the lawful order of a supervisor to enter a residence and conduct an investigation related to a deceased individual. Instead, Officer Rutkowski refused to enter and summoned another individual to enter without supervisory approval.

Police Officer Anthony Rutkowski
Terminated: No
Demoted: No
Suspended: Yes
# of Days Suspended: 30
Sustained Charge: Incompetency / Neglect of Duty
Description: Officer Rutkowski was suspended for 30 days for failing to report to court as a witness on numerous after receiving and acknowledging receipt of a subpoena for each.

Lt. Ranaldo Gonzalez
Terminated: No
Demoted: No
Suspended: Yes
# of Days Suspended: 10
Sustained Charge: Chronic and Abusive Absenteeism
Description: Lt. Gonzalez was suspended for 10 days for chronic, excessive, and/or abusive sick time usage.
Lt. Gonzalez amassed a total of 991 days of sick time used from his date of hire through the completion of this case.

Police Officer Liana Palladino
Terminated: No
Demoted: No
Suspended: Yes
# of Days Suspended: 60
Sustained Charge: Repeated Violations of Rules and Regulations, Failure to Comply With Chief's Orders, Failure to Follow Departmental Procedures, Unexcused Tardiness
Description: In accordance with a settlement agreement, Officer Palladino was suspended for an
aggregate 60 days as part of a global settlement related to five cases. Those specific cases involved one case where Officer Palladino was observed on Body Worn Camera mishandling and destroying narcotics evidence, another three cases involving unexcused tardiness, and one case involving failure to care for or maintain department owned property.

More Details

To read the full report, click here.

To see more on the incidents from Hudson County View, click here.