Date of Offense
Offense(s)
Official Statement
Terminated: No
Demoted: No
Suspended: Yes
Other Sanction:
Resigned, retired, transferred, orseparated while case was pending:
# of Days Suspended: 5
Sustained Charge: N.J.A.C. 4A:2‐2.3(a)(1) – Incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties N.J.A.C. 4A:2‐2.3(a)(6) – Conduct unbecoming a public employee N.J.A.C. 4A:2‐2.3(a)(7) – Neglect of Duty N.J.A.C. 4A:2‐2.3(a)(12) – Other sufficient cause –
Description: On January 18, 2022 an Inmate was assigned on “Dry Cell” status in order to be monitored for the passage of contraband “Cell Phone”. Inmate was assigned this cell on the authority of a Doctor, Officer Otero was assigned to the unit/ inmate as a “Constant Observation” Officer Otero documents being on post monitoring Inmates activity at 1745 hours but is not actually seen to be in front of the cell. Officer Otero is then seen on camera with his head back looking up at 1811 hours when he is supposed to be monitoring the behavior of the inmate. While Officer Otero is inattentive as to the behavior of the inmate, the Inmate is seen on his cell camera repositioning himself to remove the phone from his body cavity and then seen taking the phone out of his body cavity, all while Officer Otero is in front of the cell inattentive to the inmates activates. At 1814 hours, Officer Otero is seen on camera nodding and at 1821 hours Officer Otero is sleeping on duty. While Officer Otero is sleeping, the inmate has the phone in his hands and is destroying it. At 1823 hours, the inmate is seen placing pieces of the phone in a sock and sliding it across the floor to the door. The inmate is then seen placing the sock in his food tray at 1826 hour’s and Officer Otero is oblivious to any inmate activity as he’s sleeping on duty. At 1829 hours the inmate is still breaking the phone into pieces as the Officer is still sleeping; it is not until 1831 hours when another Officer enters the unit to conduct a tour when Officer Otero is finally awaken.
