Police Dispatcher Headed to Jail For Abusing His Post

A police dispatcher working in Morris County will be jailed for up to four years after pleading guilty to charges he repeatedly abused his position, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday.

Manny Santana III, who worked as a dispatcher for the Dover Police Department, pleaded guilty to official misconduct, a third-degree crime, Thursday. His arrest stemmed from an undercover investigation involving the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit, and its Intelligence Crime Task Force and Professional Standards Unit, in cooperation with the Dover Police Department.

Santana had resigned from his post due to the probe, the prosecutor's office said.

Authorities allege Santana:

• Disclosed confidential information about ongoing police investigations from 2004 to 2010—including disclosing the identity of a cooperating source working with the prosecutor's office and Dover police department;
• Obtained criminal histories and driver registration information purposes for non-law enforcement purposes;
• Inappropriately awarded business local tow company owner Benjamin Valle, in exchange for discounted services for his own benefit.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Binachi stressed that the incidents are a reflection on Santana only, and not the Dover Police Department as a whole.

“I commend Chief Harold Valentine of the Dover Police Department, who immediately assigned a detective to this joint investigation," Bianchi said. "I continue to have the utmost confidence in the Dover Police Department. "

A member of the Dover Police Department has been involved in every aspect of the investigation, Bianchi said.

"That officer has professionally and admirably represented the otherwise fine officers of the Dover Police Department," he said. "Mr. Santana abridged his duties to the public, compromised officer safety, and dishonorably attempted to scuttle an investigation. This significant sentence should serve to send the message that public officials will be harshly dealt with when they violate their obligations to the public. "

The prosecutor's office said Santana will be sentenced to a term of incarceration of four years in state prison, with two years of parole ineligibility.