NEWARK — An Essex County grand jury today declined to indict a Newark special police officer charged in April with collecting money for hours he never worked. Prosecutors alleged Rory Palmer, 26, who was a special officer at the Newark Public Library, was paid $1,800 after creating false time sheets. Palmer, of Newark, was charged with official misconduct, theft...
A map of Newark, N.J., where a special police officer who worked at the city public library has been accused of tampering his time sheet so he could hide $1,800. He was not indicted.NEWARK — An Essex County grand jury today declined to indict a Newark special police officer charged in April with collecting money for hours he never worked.
Prosecutors alleged Rory Palmer, 26, who was a special officer at the Newark Public Library, was paid $1,800 after creating false time sheets.
Palmer, of Newark, was charged with official misconduct, theft by deception, tampering with public records and tampering with public records by fabricating physical evidence. He had been a special officer for two years, trained by Newark police but working separately from that agency.
In a statement, Palmer’s attorney, Patrick Toscano, accused a superior officer of fabricating the charges to seek "some sort of convoluted revenge upon Officer Palmer." That officer was not named.
"The arrest and charging of my client was ill-advised, unsubstantiated and morally reprehensible," Toscano wrote, adding that Palmer wants to return to his job, and receive backpay and attorney’s fees.
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, which was handling the case, did not immediately comment.
Previous coverage:
• Newark special police officer is accused of altering time sheet to hide $1,800 theft
