Brielle Cop Charged With Stealing From PBA Expense Account

WALL, NJ – An officer from the Brielle Police Department was charged on Monday with stealing hundreds of dollars from the expense account of the local police union, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Michael W. Palmer, Jr., 33, allegedly made over $700 in personal ATM withdrawals from the Brielle PBA expense account while serving as treasurer.

The officer, a resident of Wall Township, was charged with one count of third degree theft by unlawful taking on July 20. If convicted, he faces up to five years in state prison.

The withdrawals were conducted in Wall Township, Ocean Township and Neptune City, according to an investigation, and occurred while Palmer served as treasurer of the organization between January and June of this year.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, all withdrawals were made for personal reasons and were not related to conducting PBA business.

“This is of a very sad situation, but it is as equally disappointing,” Brielle Chief of Police Gary J. Olsen said in a statement. “When any officer engages in this type of conduct, he/she violates the trust and integrity of the community in which they have sworn to protect and serve, and also violates the trust and integrity of their co-workers. Police Officers are always held to higher standard, and here in the Brielle Police Department, that standard is even higher.”

Palmer was hired as a police officer in Brielle Borough in December 2018, where he earned $105,383, according to the Prosecutor’s Office. He is currently suspended without pay pending administrative and criminal hearings.

The case is being prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, Director of the Office’s Professional Responsibilities and Bias Crimes Unit.

“We will continue to hold law enforcement officers accountable for their actions. Bad cops will be weeded out as their unlawful or improper actions are discovered,” said Prosecutor Gramiccioni in a statement. “Mr. Palmer betrayed the trust of his fellow officers and the public at-large – this is inexcusable. Mr. Palmer is not a typical example of our law enforcement community. Our law enforcement is made up of genuinely good people whose only interest is serving the community.”

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