CRANFORD, NJ — A Cranford resident and former member of the township’s auxiliary police department has been charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police records.
David Tenbroeck, 36, a detective in the Montvale Police Department in Bergen County, did not show up for work Sunday, May 13. Cranford police performed a safety check of Tenbroeck’s home on Besler Avenue after receiving a call from Montvale police Capt. Joseph Sanfilippo. According to court records, Sgt. Steven Toy discovered cocaine inside the residence and took Tenbroeck into custody.
According to Union County Prosecutor’s Office director of communications Mark Spivey, Tenbroeck’s arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday, July 11.
The arrest is the second in less than a week involving a Cranford resident and police officer who works in another municipality. Gregory Makras, of the Edison Police Department, was charged with two counts of official misconduct and one count of theft by unlawful taking for receiving payment for work he didn’t perform, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. That arrest is part of a continuing investigation in Edison, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Makras, a patrolman, was one of five Edison officers charged Friday, June 1, for getting paid for extra-duty jobs where they were not actually present.
These side jobs are in addition to the employees’ regular hours with the police department, with assignments ranging from directing traffic for utility companies to providing security services for local businesses. Payment for these side jobs can exceed $100,000 annually per officer.
Tenbroeck’s current status with the Montvale Police Department is unclear. Chief Jeremy Abrams said in a statement that the department “is taking the appropriate action necessary in light of those events. The issue in Montvale is a personnel matter, and we have no further comment at this time.”
Messages left at the office of David J. Altieri, Tenbroeck’s attorney, were not returned.
There was no mention of Tenbroeck’s arrest in the Cranford weekly police blotter until Tuesday, June 5, and after LocalSource requested information regarding the matter. The arrest report, obtained by through an Open Public Records Act request, was heavily redacted.
According to state pension records, Tenbroeck’s salary is $123,270.