4 Newark Police Officers Barhopped, Tried To Cover It Up: ECPO – Newark, NJ Patch

NEWARK, NJ — Four Newark police officers, including a lieutenant, have been charged with falsifying police records, authorities announced Thursday.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, one officer, Michael Chirico, 55, of Newark, was also charged with driving under the influence. He is accused of driving the wrong way down University Avenue, a one-way street, and hitting a car driven by a woman with four children in the vehicle.

Lt. Norberto Soares, 42, of Kenilworth, officer Erik Blount, 33, of Newark, and officer Tashia Jones, 35, of Newark, were all charged with tampering with public records, a third-degree offense, prosecutors said.

“Not only did these officers barhop around the City of Newark while on duty and in full uniform, but they lied in an attempt to cover it up,” Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said.

“One officer’s conduct put innocent people at risk,” Stephens alleged. “The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office has a zero-tolerance policy toward officers who violate their oath and the public trust that comes with it.”

According to prosecutors:

“It is alleged that on Jan. 18, the officers knowingly made false entries in a government record or document with the purpose to defraud or injure another. It is further alleged that they falsely reported responding to incidents when surveillance footage and other evidence showed the police officers were not present at the location as reported in the patrol logs. Rather, the officers were at bars consuming alcohol while in uniform and on duty working for the Newark Police Department.”

The investigation was conducted by the Professional Standards Bureau of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Newark Police Department Internal Affairs Unit and the Consent Decree Unit.

An investigation is active and ongoing, prosecutors said.

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