Jersey City Police Sgt. Andrew LaBruno, a former Dumont mayor who lost a state Assembly race in the 39th Legislative District earlier this month, has been suspended without pay after being arrested for sexually assaulting a child.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“[LaBruno] was suspended without pay immediately following his arrest. The JCPD will assist the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office as needed during its criminal investigation,” city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said following an inquiry from HCV.
“As is standard procedure, JCPD Internal Affairs is conducting its own investigation and will determine his final employment status pending the outcome of all investigations.”
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said that LaBruno was arrested earlier today for aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, and endangering the welfare of a child after allegedly sexually assaulting a juvenile at his home in Englewood.
The law enforcement officer allegedly messaged the juvenile on a social media platform before arranging to meet him when the victim was home alone. He is currently being lodged at the Bergen County jail pending a detention hearing in Hackensack.
Independent Online News first reported on the arrest this morning.
The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Englewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Greeley.
Additionally, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella thanked the BCPO and the Englewood PD for their assistance in the investigation.
A former president of the Jersey City Police Superior Officers Association, LaBruno ran on Mayor Steven Fulop’s “Democrats for Change” gubernatorial slate and won the June 10th primary where he had the backing of the local police and fire unions.
He lost the general election to Republican Assembly members Robert Auth and John Azzariti, finishing in third place to Auth by about 1.3 percentage points, according to tallies from the Bergen County Clerk’s Office.
