New Jersey Libertarian Party

The NJLP Open Government Task Force joined forces with the Union County Watchdog Association to ask why Gennaro Mirabella, a 17 year veteran of the Garwood Borough Police Department (and brother of a Union County Freeholder) was not prosecuted after reportedly having been caught on videotape breaking the law.

The officer was caught on tape damaging change machines in a laundromat on August 18th. The next day he was caught on tape breaking into the Garwood Municipal building and rifling through the desk drawers of the township Chief Financial Officer. He was cited for both incidents.

The case was transferred to the Westfield Municipal Court. The Westfield Prosecutor dismissed all charges "in the interest of justice."

A copy of the request letter  is posted HERE. The original complaint summons for both violations can be seen HERE.

The Union County Watchdog has received a copy of a signed agreement between the Borough of Garwood and Officer Mirabello. In it the Borough agrees to drop disciplinary actions and to provide a favorable report to potential employees if Mirabella resigns. The NJLP Open Government Task Force and the Union County Watchdog have now asked the State Attorney General to look into the issue. The Union County Watchdog has posted an article about it HERE.

As a result of an OPRA request we have obtained the video of him ripping papers off a bulletin board and jamming them into two change machines. We have an outstanding OPRA request for the video of him breaking into the Garwood Municipal hall.