UNION CITY POLICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH COMPUTER THEFT

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Public Integrity Unit, Internal Affairs Section in conjunction with the Union City Police Department, arrested and charged a Union City Police Officer with Computer Theft following an investigation.

Weslley Hernandez, age 29, of Clifton, was arrested just after 11 a.m. on Friday, February 19, 2021, at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City after he turned himself in with his attorney.

Hernandez has been charged with Computer Theft in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-25(E), a crime of the second degree.

The investigation discovered that Hernandez on diverse dates in June 2020 accessed the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Database and obtained information for purposes other than those authorized by his employment as a police officer.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office HCPO Public Integrity Unit, Internal Affairs Unit, the Union City Police Department, the Hoboken Police Department and the Newark Police Department with the investigation and arrest.

“When it was brought to our attention that an officer from an unknown jurisdiction may be using his position to provide information to a criminal enterprise, the Department took immediate steps to confirm or dispel a Union City Officer’s involvement. Upon confirming involvement, and later that same day, we contacted the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Internal Affairs Unit,” said Union City Police Chief Nichelle Luster. “We cooperated with the Prosecutor’s Office investigation and placed the officer on administrative leave during the investigation. In light of today’s charges, the officer will be suspended without pay. We have a zero tolerance policy for these types of actions and believe law enforcement must be held to the highest of standards.”

This is an ongoing investigation and additional arrests and/or charges are possible.

The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).