Brielle Cop Pleads Guilty To Taking From PBA Account: Prosecutor

WALL – A Brielle police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing over $700 from the expense account of the local police union, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

Michael W. Palmer, Jr., 33, of Wall Township, pleaded guilty to an accusation charging him with one count of third-degree theft. The officer acknowledged that, between Feb. 20 and March 25, 2020, while serving treasurer for the local PBA, he withdrew $734.25 in cash from the union bank account for personal purposes and without proper authorization.

An order forfeiting his position as a Brielle police officer and permanently forfeiting public office in the state was also entered on Sept. 4 and serves as a condition of his plea. Palmer also agreed to pay the Brielle PBA $734.25 in restitution.

Palmer is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 22, 2020. He faces up to five years in state prison.

“We will continue to hold law enforcement officers accountable for their actions and will prosecute those who violate the law,” said Monmouth County Prosecutor Gramiccioni in a statement. “Police officers who betray their oaths fail our citizens, their fellow officers, and make it harder for the law enforcement community to obtain the public’s trust. We will not tolerate this conduct and the added burden that it places on the work of honorable law enforcement officers who are working tirelessly to serve their communities.”

Related: Brielle Cop Charged With Stealing From PBA Expense Account

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 was suspended without pay prior to forfeiting his position as a Brielle police officer.

“I can’t stress this enough; Mr. Palmer’s behavior was inexcusable and is by no means a representation of the high level of professionalism and integrity of every Brielle police officer,” said Brielle Police Chief Gary J. Olsen. “As a department, and as an association, we are very pleased with the outcome of this case and we look forward to moving on and recovering from this.”

Have a news tip? Email nicole.rosenthal@patch.com.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or get breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app, download here. Follow Wall Patch on Facebook.