Five Bayonne police officers faced major discipline in 2023, one of which resigned after getting in trouble for four separate incidents, according to the department’s annual major discipline report.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“On June 15, 2020 while off-duty, Officer [Christopher] DeNoble made a false report to the Aberdeen Police Department regarding his supervisor, a Bayonne Police sergeant. Officer C. DeNoble was untruthful or had demonstrated a lack of candor while speaking to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office during the investigation into the allegations,” the discipline report says.
He MCPO charged him with identity theft and making false reports to law enforcement on September 9th, 2020, and as a result, was ordered to give the department an update on his case after 30 days.
However, the Bayonne Police Department indicates that did not happen, therefore, he was said to be insubordinate to their rules and regulations.
Eventually, he entered the Pre-Trial Intervention Program on April 11th, 2022 and retired in September 2022 prior to discipline being implemented.
This incident, and the three others of his that aren’t related, appeared in the report since he attempted to return to active deputy and his final denial occurred last year.
Additionally, DeNoble allegedly failed to report to work or properly notify the police desk of his sick leave on five dates in 2021, as well as failing to return to active duty on time on March 15th, 2021 (these were outlined in two separate incidents).
His final incident occurred on July 11th, 2022, accused of asking a politician, who is not named, to intervene in his disciplinary matters and give him preferential treatment.
The same charge was lobbed against Police Officer Eduardo Mena-Ramos, who filed a lawsuit in July 2021 alleging he faced retaliation after being accused of reporting superiors of driving drunk, though it was dismissed about eight months later.
He was suspended for 15 days for an incident related to leaving his post and reckless driving.
“On December 3, 2021, Officer Mena-Ramos left a call for service at the Bayonne Medical Center and responded to headquarters without notification to the Communications Center. Officer Mena-Ramos then left headquarters and failed to notify the Communications Center once again,” the report states.
“Instead of heading to his assigned district, Officer MenaRamos left his district to conduct personal business. Officer Mena-Ramos improperly parked his marked patrol unit and opened his driver door into oncoming traffic causing a passing motorist to collide with the driver door.”
He resigned in December, prior to department discipline being issued.
Additionally, Probationary Police Officer Karim Estephanou resigned about a year ago after being found to have lied about his residency.
The other two officers disciplined had hit the press in 2022: Jeffrey Veloz and Sgt. Richard Killmer.
Veloz used four different ways to avoid Bayonne Bridge toll 81 times, prompting him to resign on November 1st, 2022, though it was not finalized until February 9th, 2023.
Finally, Killmer was charged with using a law enforcement database for his personal use while off duty in April 2022 and was entered into the Pre-Trial Intervention program on December 5th, 2022 in Hudson County Superior Court.
The department issued Killmer a 180-day suspension and a loss of promotional opportunity as punishment. Out of the five officers named in the 2023 annual discipline report, he is the only one still with the department.
