NJ attorney general’s 2024 major discipline report lists 644 incidents, up 19.7% from ’23

The state Office of the Attorney General has released its annual major discipline report, detailing actions taken by New Jersey law enforcement agencies against officers between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024.

The 2024 report, which was released July 7, lists 644 incidents of major discipline taken last year by 172 agencies in New Jersey against 543 officers. The numbers are up 19.7% from 2023, when there were 538 major disciplines from 167 agencies involving 460 unique officers.

Each year, New Jersey’s law enforcement agencies are required to submit a report of all major discipline imposed by that agency on its officers, the Attorney General’s Office website says. “Major discipline” is defined by the office as terminations, reductions in rank or suspension of more than five days.

Additionally, a 2022 directive expanded the infractions considered to be major discipline. The list now includes, among other things, discriminatory conduct, filing a false report, intentionally performing an improper search, applying excessive force, being untruthful, intentionally mishandling or destroying evidence, and committing domestic violence.

The expanded reporting categories also include officers charged with an indictable crime and officers who departed from an agency while an internal affairs matter was pending and where the outcome of the investigation would have required reporting.

“Publicly releasing this data about the handling of disciplinary matters helps maintain the public’s trust in those dedicated, hardworking men and women of law enforcement,” said Attorney General Matthew Platkin. “My office is committed to improving transparency and building confidence in government, and providing this data is part of that mission.”

Major discipline by county

Once again, the majority of reports came out of Camden County, which saw 126 disciplines, most of which were suspensions.

Overall, the New Jersey Corrections Department reported the most disciplines by far, with 123, followed by the Camden County Department of Corrections, with 96.

The most frequently occurring offense in 2024 was related to attendance, including lateness and calling out too close to the start of a shift.

The report says law enforcement agencies in North Jersey with major discipline in 2024 include:

• Bergen County (16 agencies): Prosecutor’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, and the police departments in Bergenfield, Elmwood Park, Garfield, Harrington Park, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Lodi, Palisades Park, Paramus, Ramsey, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, Rutherford and Tenafly.
• Essex County (11): Corrections Department, Sheriff’s Office, Montclair State University police and the departments in Belleville, Caldwell, Montclair, Newark, Nutley, Orange, South Orange and West Orange.
• Morris County (3): the Dover, Florham Park and Parsippany-Troy Hills police departments.
• Passaic County (8): Sheriff’s Office, William Paterson University police, and the police departments in Clifton, Passaic, Paterson, Pompton Lakes, Wanaque and West Milford.

How to find towns

To view the full report, including a statewide list and details about disciplinary action taken in a town, visit njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Major-Discipline-1-01-24-to-12-31-24.pdf.

Residents also can filter through data using the Attorney General’s Office interactive major discipline dashboard at njoag.gov/majordiscipline.