2 Middletown Police Officers Received Major Discipline In 2025

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — On June 12, the New Jersey Attorney General released its annual report listing the major disciplinary actions taken last year at all the police departments, county corrections and county sheriffs agencies in the state.

The data is all publicly available here on the NJ Attorney General’s website, under the 2025 Major Discipline Report.

In Middletown, major discipline action was taken against two officers on the town's police force:

• Patrolman Ekne Montalvo, who was issued a 20-day suspension for starting a police car chase without getting his supervisor's approval.
• Patrolman Justin Skelly, who pleaded guilty in April to child endangerment related to a romantic relationship he had with a 17-year-old girl when he was 24 years old.

As conditions of his plea, Skelly permanently forfeited his position as a Middletown police officer. He is the son of Middletown's Fire Official Bud Skelly.

Montalvo remains a Middletown Police officer.

Here is a summary: (All of the below information can be found on page 311 of the Attorney General's 2025 report.)

1. Middletown Police Patrolman Ekne Montalvo

Terminated: No

Demoted: No

Suspended: Yes

Other Sanction: Training coaching or counseling

Resigned, retired, transferred, or separated while case was pending: No

# of Days Suspended: 20

Sustained Charge: Violation of NJ AG Guideline Use of Force Addendum B - Vehicle Pursuit Policy (subsections3.4, 4.2, 5.3, 10.1 and MTPD Rules and Regulations 3.4.11-Obey all Departmental Rules and Regulations

Description: Ptl. Montalvo engaged in a vehicle pursuit without supervisory approval or a request to assist from the jurisdiction that initiated it. The pursuit was at excessive speed and continued after the officer lost sight of the suspect vehicle.

2. Middletown Police Patrolman Justin Skelly

Terminated: No

Demoted: No

Suspended: Yes

Other Sanction: NA

Resigned, retired, transferred, or separated while case was pending: Yes

# of Days Suspended:

Sustained Charge: Pending

Description: In January 2025, Middletown Police Officer Justin Skelly was charged with second-degree Sexual Assault (supervisory or disciplinary power over someone under 18 years old) and third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. These charges involved his relationship with a seventeen-year old high school student between August and December of 2024. Skelly was indicted by a grand jury for these charges and related offenses on December 15, 2025. **While these charges remained pending as of December 31, 2025, Skelly entered a guilty plea to third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child on April 6, 2026. As conditions of his plea, he permanently forfeited his position as a Middletown police officer and permanently forfeited public office in New Jersey. He also agreed to have no contact with the victim.

NJ police departments are required to report major discipline to the Attorney General

Police departments across New Jersey are required to submit this data to the state. Agencies report officers serving major discipline only when the discipline is final, and appeals have been exhausted. Pending cases are not included. Thus, officers suspended in 2025, but whose discipline determination is not final, do not appear in the report. The report only covers completed cases with sustained charges resulting in final sanctions, or plea agreements not pending any potential appeals.

Major discipline is defined as police officers being charged with an indictable crime, being fired, reductions in rank, suspension of more than five days, and instances when officers are found guilty of certain internal affairs violations. It also includes discriminatory conduct, filing a false report, intentionally performing an improper search, applying excessive force, being untruthful, intentionally mishandling or destroying evidence and committing domestic violence.

NJ Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said her office makes this information public to increase transparency and trust in the police, especially when they use force.

“Maintaining faith in government and trust in law enforcement requires that residents know the state holds law enforcement to the highest professional standards,” said Davenport on June 12. “Transparency and accountability are key to maintaining public confidence in our officers.”

Prior: Ex-Middletown Police Officer Admits To Illegal Relationship With Teenage Girl, State Seeks 4 Years In Prison (April 2026)