A Harrison Police Department dispatcher was arrested for possessing over 1,000 images of child pornography after a joint investigation between the Harrison and Secaucus Police Departments, as well as the New Jersey State Police, authorities said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
In 2022, detectives from the Secaucus Police Department joined the ranks of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force – New Jersey, which is led by the New Jersey State Police, Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said in a statement.
In October 2023, the Secaucus Police Department received a tip that a file depicting child sexual abuse material was viewed/uploaded to an account that was logged into via an IP address that hit off of a cellular tower within Secaucus.
The investigation spearheaded by Det. Kristen Bronowich revealed that Jason D. Lewis was the possessor of this file, depicting child sexual abuse material and it further revealed that he is a police dispatcher and Special I police officer for the Harrison Police Department.
Yesterday, members of the Secaucus Police Detective Division, assisted by the New Jersey State Police ICAC Unit and Harrison Police Department Internal Affairs Unit executed a court authorized search of Lewis’ Cleveland Avenue residence in Harrison.
During the search, over 1,000 images depicting child sexual abuse material were located.
As a result, Lewis, 39, of Harrison was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child and lodged in the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
“Crime knows no borders. Therefore, whether you commit a crime in Secaucus by crossing our border physically or by electronic means, the Secaucus Police Department will work tirelessly to bring you to justice and hold you accountable for your crimes,” Miller added.
“My detectives have my unwavering support and I remain proud of their investigative work.”
Harrison Police Chief David Stumolo said that Lewis has been a dispatcher for the department for nearly five years and had been training to be a special police officer, but had not yet finished his training for that position.
“Mr. Lewis has been employed as a Harrison Emergency Dispatcher since March, 2019. He recently began training for the position of Special Class I Officer, but to date has not served our community in this capacity,” he said.
“We are grateful for the investigation and the efforts of the Secaucus Police Department and would like to assure the public that our Police Department and the Town of Harrison will respond to this investigation fully with the goal of keeping our community safe. We always hold our officers and staff to the highest standards of professional integrity and the commission of a crime is not tolerated. At this time Mr. Lewis has been suspended immediately, pending the outcome of this investigation.”
He continued that anyone with any concerns regarding Harrison police personnel should not hesitate in filing a complaint with their internal affairs unit, as well as that he is proud of the men and women who serve in their department.
“The members of the Harrison Police Department are committed to protecting and serving our community. We have a dedicated and professional team of men and women who do an outstanding job in fulfilling their duties as public servants and I am proud to be their chief.”
