Ex-Morris Twp. cop gets PTI for alleged retaliation
A former Morris Township patrolman was admitted Wednesday into Morris County's Pre-Trial Intervention program to resolve a charge of leaking sensitive information about a superior officer to that officer's estranged wife.
Hopatcong resident Steven Crump, 36, did not admit any criminal wrongdoing to be accepted by Superior Court Judge William McGovern into the PTI program. Under PTI, Crump will be supervised on probation for one year, pay $125 in fines and penalties, and cannot have any contact with his former superior officer, identified only as M.D.
Crump had been charged with a seldom-applied statute called retaliation for past-official action, a fourth-degree offense that technically is punishable upon conviction by up to 18 months in prison, though he received PTI. If he successfully completes the PTI terms, the charge will be dismissed and Crump will not have a criminal record.
He was charged June 16 with the crime after an investigation by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. The crime of retaliation for past-official action alleges, in part, that a person harms another by committing an unlawful act with the purpose to retaliate against someone for actions he or she took as a public servant.
Crump, who worked for Morris Township between 2007 and August 2013 before he resigned, had a poor working relationship with M.D. After leaving the department, Crump allegedly learned the superior officer was going through a divorce and emailed the man's estranged wife sensitive information that she could use in the divorce proceeding, according to records.
Crump did not make a statement during the brief hearing in Superior Court, Morristown, and his attorney, Peter Till, declined comment afterwards. While employed as a police officer, Crump had received multiple commendations that included awards from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for 2011, 2012 and 2013, and a 2012 department award for exceptional duty.
Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.