Two members of the Vineland, N.J. Police Department are at the center of criminal investigation involving the city’s main police union and a lot of missing money, sources told NBC10 News Thursday.
According to sources, the investigation involves thousands of dollars in unaccounted funds from Local 266 of the Police Benevolent Association, the main police union in the Cumberland County city of approximately 61,000 people.
No one had been arrested or charged as of late Thursday afternoon, but Vineland Mayor Robert Romano confirmed that a criminal investigation was underway and called it a sad day for the city.
“If the allegations become that they’re true…it’s disturbing and it’s a mistrust with the public,” Romano told NBC10 News.
Romano, a retired police officer who served on the city’s force for 34 years, said the probe began a few months ago, although he didn’t learn of the allegations—which he described as “pretty serious”--until Wednesday.
The Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office is leading the investigation, according to the mayor. Both Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae and Vineland Police Chief Timothy Codispoti refused to comment Thursday. However, sources told NBC10 News there could be significant developments in the case soon.
Vineland’s mayor said he felt the probe should not cast a shadow on the city’s entire police force.
“I consider the city of Vineland’s police department one of the best in the state of New Jersey, but you know what? You can’t shelter these types of things anywhere you go,” Romano said.
