A Long Branch police officer has pleaded guilty to harassment by offensively touching a woman who attended a police promotions party at a city bar back in February, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Officials say Long Branch Police Officer Patrick D. Joyce, Jr., 35, of West Long Branch and a 12-year veteran of the Long Branch Police Department, pleaded guilty to the petty disorderly persons offense of Harassment before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Paul X. Escandon, as part of a plea agreement with the State.
The plea agreement calls for a probationary period to be determined by the court at sentencing, mandatory outpatient treatment, and a forfeiture of his current post as a police officer and all future public employment in New Jersey.
The charges stem from an incident at Jack’s Goal Line Stand, a city bar where a private party was hosted following the promotion of four city police officers, on Feb. 1st. At today’s plea hearing, Joyce admitted that he offensively touched a 21-year-old woman during the event. As a result of the charges, Joyce was suspended by the Long Branch Police Department, and he will lose that post as part of his plea agreement.
“The vast majority of law enforcement officers perform their duties with integrity and honor. However, when a police officer takes advantage of the very citizens they are sworn to protect, it erodes public confidence and violates the public’s trust. Such behavior will never be acceptable or tolerated,” aid Prosecutor Gramiccioni.
The guilty plea marks the seventeenth law enforcement officer prosecuted by this Office since Prosecutor Gramiccioni took office on July 1, 2012.
Officials say Joyce is scheduled to be sentenced on June 7th before Judge Escandon.