Union City Police Officer Charged With DWI Remains On Force

SECAUCUS, NJ — The Union City police officer who was charged with DWI in Secaucus last month is still on the police force.

"Maurico Garces is still employed by the Union City Police Department. Although he has been charged with a DWI offense, any disciplinary action will be incumbent on the disposition of his current case," said Union City Police Chief Anthony Facchini this week.

At 3:03 a.m. July 2, Secaucus Police found Garces' car stopped in the left-hand turn lane at the intersection of Secaucus Road and County Avenue. He was asleep inside. He admitted to the police officer to having "had a couple drinks," and also said he is a Union City police officer, to which the Secaucus patrolman asked if he was looking for preferential treatment.

This is the third time Garces has been arrested:

He was charged with DWI and convicted in 2015, according to NJ.com. He previously received a 90-day license suspension for that DWI conviction.

You can be convicted of a DWI in New Jersey and still become a police officer, as long as it is not a felony DWI conviction.

In 2009, Garces was charged with disorderly conduct, after police say he intervened in a domestic violence call. Read more about his 2009 arrest: https://hudsoncountyview.com/p...

Garces, 34, lives in Secaucus. See the July 2 traffic stop courtesy of Hudson County View:

Original report: Union City Police Officer Charged With DWI In Secaucus