Two former New Jersey police chiefs have been charged with sex-related crimes involving women who worked in their departments. The announcement was made by the state Attorney General’s office on Wednesday. One of the chiefs, Frank Nucera Jr., has been suspended from his post in Bordentown since 2017 and is now facing a hate crime charge for allegedly assaulting an African-American teenager. The other chief, Andrew Kudrick, retired from his position in Mount Arlington last year.
According to prosecutors, Nucera directed officers under his command to use excessive force against black people and once said he wanted to “mow them down.” He is also accused of slamming a handcuffed suspect’s head into a metal doorjamb during an arrest in 2016. The new charges against him involve allegations that he sexually assaulted a female officer multiple times between 2015 and 2017.
Meanwhile, Kudrick is accused of using his authority to coerce two female subordinates into having sex with him over several years while they were employed by the department. He faces charges of official misconduct and sexual assault.
The cases against both men highlight ongoing concerns about sexual harassment and abuse within law enforcement agencies across the country. A recent investigation by USA Today found that at least 85,000 law enforcement officers have been investigated or disciplined for misconduct over the past decade, including more than 22,000 who were accused of using excessive force or other violent behavior.
The attorney general’s office urged any additional victims or witnesses to come forward as part of its ongoing investigations into both cases. “No one should be subjected to unwanted sexual advances or abuse by those in positions of power,” Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement. “We will aggressively prosecute anyone who engages in this type of reprehensible conduct.”