8 Somerset County Cops Named In ‘Major Discipline’ Report Released By NJAG Office

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — The New Jersey Attorney General's Office publicly released all the names of New Jersey police officers who were subject to "major discipline" in 2025 — and eight police officers with six Somerset County police agencies are on that list.

On June 12, the state AG office released its annual Major Discipline Report, which lists details for hundreds of police officers in the state. The report covers the period from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025.

According to the attorney general’s office, "major discipline" is defined as terminations, reductions in rank, or suspension of more than five days. Pending cases are not included in the data set.

The 2025 report shows that six Somerset County agencies had a total of eight officers subject to "major" discipline: one from Branchburg Township Police, one from Franklin Township Police, two from Manville Police, two from North Plainfield Police, one from Raritan Police, and one from Somerset County Department of Corrections.

Branchburg Township

Branchburg Township Officer Thomas Meola was suspended for 30 days in 2025 for "Administrative Policy Violation(s)."

"On July 21,2025, Sgt. Meola failed to conduct an adequate investigation into a single-car motor vehicle crash, failed to activate his [body worn camera](BWC), and directed a subordinate officer to deactivate his BWC during the investigation which resulted in sustained violation(s) of Branchburg PD’s 'Traffic Enforcement and Control' and 'Body Worn Cameras' policy(s)/procedure(s)."

Franklin Township

Franklin Township Sgt. Manuel Rios was suspended for four days in 2025 for "Police officers shall abide by all rules, regulations and department procedures and directives governing police officer employees."

"Sergeant Rios was absent from duty by failing to review and audit POSS entries regarding his overtime and compensatory time off. By failing to review these entries, Sergeant Rios submitted false reports. Sergeant Rios violated policy on several occasions by signing up for extra duty employment assignments that he was ineligible to work. He also violated the maximum number of work hours allowed on multiple occasions and received compensatory time from a training class that he failed to attend. Lastly, Sergeant Rios failed to act with the highest ethical and moral standards expected of officers. Sergeant Rios forfeited four vacation days and resigned in lieu of these charges that would have resulted in demotion and major discipline."

Manville Police

Manville Police Chief Thomas Herbst was suspended and then terminated in 2025 for "Official Misconduct, Pattern of Official Misconduct, and Criminal Sexual Contact."

"On Feb. 13, 2025, Thomas Herbst was convicted by a jury in Somerset County on several counts of official misconduct and related offenses. Specifically, he was found guilty of four counts on offical misconduct, one count of a pattern of official misconduct, one count of sexual assault (all second-degree crimes), and one count of criminal sexual conduct (fourth-degree). Chief Herbst was convicted of unwanted sexual behavior toward at least three women. The conviction revealed he regularly groped, exposed himself to, sexually harassed and sexually assaulted an employee of the police department who reported directly to him, using coercion and doing so without the victim’s consent, between 2008 and 2021. Chief Herbst's conviction revealed he had solicited sexual favors from the wife of one of his subordinate officers, in order for that officer to receive favorable employment decisions and opportunities. Chief Herbst's conviction revealed he had gone to the newly purchased home of another victim, whom had previously been his subordinate and while touring the house, sexually assaulted her. Chief Herbst conviction revealed he deliberately held onto a Manville Police badge and subsequently misrepresented himself as an active duty member of the police department. Also, on Feb. 13, 2025, Thomas Herbst resigned his position as Chief of Police effective immediately. There is a pending appeal of Thomas Herbst's criminal conviction.

Manville Police Lieutenant Paul Meixner was suspended for six days in 2025 for "Manville Rules and Regulations: Violation of Lieutenant Responsibilities, Violation of Professional Conduct, Violation of Duty Responsibilities, Violation of Handling of Firearms, Violation of Firearms Safety, Violation of Misconduct."

"On April 29, 2025, Lieutenant Paul Meixner was charged and pleaded guilty to 6 Departmental Violations regarding improper handling of a firearm and misconduct pursuant to Manville Police Department Rules and Regulations / Policies and Procedures. It was determined that Lieutenant Paul Meixner possessed and handled a shotgun while sitting at his desk inside of his office in the presence of a civilian employee and physically manipulated the action on the shotgun. Lieutenant Meixner was suspended for 6 days as a result of the investigation."

North Plainfield Police

North Plainfield Detective Richard Dow was terminated in 2025 for "PTC License Revocation."

"Ofc. Dow was the defendant of a Final Restraining Order out of Middlesex County, NJ, Superior Court. Ofc. Dow’s Police Training Commission license was subsequently suspended and then revoked. Ofc. Dow was subsequently terminated from the police department after a hearing."

North Plainfield Patrolman Thomas Kirse was terminated in 2025 for "Uttering Forged Document 4th Degree."

"Ofc. Thomas Kirse knowingly submitted a fraudulent doctor’s sick note to the police department, excusing him from work. After an investigation, Ofc. Kirse was charged by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office with uttering a forged document, a fourth-degree crime. Ofc. Kirse pleaded guilty to the charge and entered into the Pre-Trial Intervention Program and agreed never to hold a law enforcement position again in the state of New Jersey. Ofc. Kirse was subsequently terminated from the police department."

Raritan Police

Raritan Officer Damien Chromowsky was given a 30-day loss of time in 2025 for "Failure to abide by department rules and regulations and body-worn camera policy."

"During a call for service, Chromowsky deactivated his body-worn camera while speaking with a possible suspect. After officers cleared the scene, Chromowsky was involved in an on-duty altercation with a fellow officer, concerning his behavior at the call. During the altercation, Chromowsky removed his bulletproof vest and threw it toward a police vehicle, causing a crack in the windshield. Chromowsky pled guilty to the following departmental Rules and Regulations: insubordination, code of ethics, standards of conduct, performance of duty, and department property and equipment. Chromowsky pled guilty to the departmental Body Worn Camera Policy. He received a 30-day loss of time punishment, for a total of 360 hours. After the investigation was closed, Chromowsky retired from the department."

Somerset County Department of Corrections

Somerset County Department of Corrections Officer Christian Clarvoe was suspended for 10 days in 2025 for "Violation of Sickness and Injury Procedure Policy."

"Officer Clarvoe failed to submit proper completed medical paperwork in the allotted time given."

“Maintaining faith in government and trust in law enforcement requires that residents know the State holds law enforcement to the highest professional standards,” said Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. “Transparency and accountability are key to maintaining public confidence in our officers.”

According to the information reported for the 2025 reporting year, 817 major discipline actions were taken by 169 agencies against 654 officers.

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