Wall police sergeant charged with stealing $75K, including charity money, from PBA

Jenna Calderón, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read
6

FREEHOLD - A Wall Police Department sergeant has been charged with stealing over $75,000 from his local Police Benevolent Association (PBA) chapter, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Monday.

James R. Cadigan, 40, is charged with second-degree theft by unlawful taking.

Cadigan had organized this year's annual fundraising event for the PBA as well as in previous years, from which the money is donated to various charitable organizations, Santiago said. After members of the Wall Township PBA found a significant amount of cash was missing after the event, they contacted the Professional Responsibility & Bias Crime Bureau at the prosecutor's office.

Along with the confirmation of missing event proceeds, the investigation revealed that starting at least in 2018 and in each following year, Cadigan made several unauthorized cash withdrawals from multiple PBA bank accounts and wrote checks to himself and to cash from the same accounts, Santiago said.

Police in trouble:Former Ocean Township cop avoids jail after paying restitution for real estate forgery

Investigation into both the extent of the theft and how Cadigan used the PBA’s funds is still ongoing.

Cadigan was served the charges against him via summons on Friday, according to Santiago, pending future proceedings to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court.

Police in trouble:Freehold Township cop admits to snooping in law-enforcement database

“Local police unions are so often the drivers of philanthropic and charitable endeavors, especially at this time of year, so it is deeply disheartening when any member of law enforcement leverages access to their funds in order to achieve personal financial gains,” Prosecutor Santiago said. “We hope that the charges being announced today send a clear message that any such conduct is wholly unacceptable, and will be thoroughly and dutifully investigated and prosecuted.”

Anyone with information about this or related matters should contact MCPO Detective Brian Hammarstrom at 800-533-7443.

Police in trouble:Aberdeen ex-cop jailed for tampering with evidence, including his own drug test

Jenna Calderón covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; jcalderon@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Wall NJ cop accused of stealing $75K from PBA