8 Somerset County Cops Named In ‘Major Discipline’ Report Released By NJAG Office

“Sergeant Rios was absent from duty by failing to review and audit POSS entries regarding his overtime and compensatory time off. By failing to review these entries, Sergeant Rios submitted false reports. Sergeant Rios violated policy on several occasions by signing up for extra duty employment assignments that he was ineligible to work. He also violated the maximum number of work hours allowed on multiple occasions and received compensatory time from a training class that he failed to attend. Lastly, Sergeant Rios failed to act with the highest ethical and moral standards expected of officers. Sergeant Rios forfeited four vacation days and resigned in lieu of these charges that would have resulted in demotion and major discipline.”

Manville Police

Manville Police Chief Thomas Herbst was suspended and then terminated in 2025 for “Official Misconduct, Pattern of Official Misconduct, and Criminal Sexual Contact.”

“On Feb. 13, 2025, Thomas Herbst was convicted by a jury in Somerset County on several counts of official misconduct and related offenses. Specifically, he was found guilty of four counts on offical misconduct, one count of a pattern of official misconduct, one count of sexual assault (all second-degree crimes), and one count of criminal sexual conduct (fourth-degree). Chief Herbst was convicted of unwanted sexual behavior toward at least three women. The conviction revealed he regularly groped, exposed himself to, sexually harassed and sexually assaulted an employee of the police department who reported directly to him, using coercion and doing so without the victim’s consent, between 2008 and 2021. Chief Herbst’s conviction revealed he had solicited sexual favors from the wife of one of his subordinate officers, in order for that officer to receive favorable employment decisions and opportunities. Chief Herbst’s conviction revealed he had gone to the newly purchased home of another victim, whom had previously been his subordinate and while touring the house, sexually assaulted her. Chief Herbst conviction revealed he deliberately held onto a Manville Police badge and subsequently misrepresented himself as an active duty member of the police department. Also, on Feb. 13, 2025, Thomas Herbst resigned his position as Chief of Police effective immediately. There is a pending appeal of Thomas Herbst’s criminal conviction.

Manville Police Lieutenant Paul Meixner was suspended for six days in 2025 for “Manville Rules and Regulations: Violation of Lieutenant Responsibilities, Violation of Professional Conduct, Violation of Duty Responsibilities, Violation of Handling of Firearms, Violation of Firearms Safety, Violation of Misconduct.”