PRINCETON: Boro cop accused of drinking with teens

By Lauren Otis, Staff Writer
   Patrolman Garrett Brown with the Princeton Borough Police Department has been assigned to restricted duty and is facing administrative charges after a hearing on allegations that he provided alcohol to minors and drank with them at a residence in upstate New York in October 2007.
   ”He has been assigned to restricted duty as of today,” said Princeton Borough Police Chief Anthony Federico on Thursday. Ptl. Brown, the son of U.S. District Court Judge Garrett Brown, will be on administrative/desk duty at full pay, Chief Federico said.
   Chief Federico said he could not go into the nature of the new charges, but they came about as a result of testimony made at Ptl. Brown’s disciplinary hearing at Borough Hall on Wednesday.
   Arthur Thibault, the independent prosecutor who is presenting the case for the borough, said Marsha Gates testified at the hearing. Ms. Gates was one of two adults present at a home in Keene, N.Y. in October 2007, when Ptl. Brown attended a gathering there where six juveniles ages 14 to 17 were present, Mr. Thibault said.
   ”She testified that Officer Brown was there for a few hours, that he had brought alcohol,” and drank with juveniles present, Mr. Thibault said. “I thought her testimony was spot on to what she had told the New York State troopers,” who originally investigated the matter, Mr. Thibault said.
   James Mets, the attorney representing Ptl. Brown, said Thursday afternoonthat he had not received any word about further charges filed against hisclient, or that Ptl. Brown had been assigned to desk duty. Of Ms. Gates’ appearance at the Wednesday hearing, Mr. Metssaid: “Her testimony was so inconsistent with anybody else who was presentat this party.” He also said that her testimony was inconsistent with documentsfiled in the case and that her standing was furthercalled into question because she had served prison time and associated witha gang member.
   Of the reason Ptl. Brown was in upstate New York, Mr. Thibault said “I think Officer Brown hunts up there with some people who used to live in Princeton.” Ms. Gates and another adult, who was also present at the gathering, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges resulting from the night’s events, he said.
   Mr. Thibault said New York State police were apparently tipped off to the party at Ms. Gates’ Keene residence, and after an investigation filed charges and made arrests in the case several months later. They contacted Princeton Borough’s police department about the matter at the time, Mr. Thibault said, informing them that Ptl. Brown was charged with “unlawfully dealing with a minor,” in the case. Ptl. Brown voluntarily turned himself over to New York State officials, Mr. Thibault said.
   Ms. Gates and the other adult pled guilty, but Ptl. Brown never entered a plea and his case was dismissed in late 2008 under a penal code statute in the state whereby factors such as his out-of-state status, not being a repeat offender, and the lack of seriousness of the charges can result in dismissal, Mr. Thibault said. “It wasn’t dismissed on the merits at all,” he said.
   After the criminal process had run its course in New York, borough police subsequently initiated their own internal affairs investigation, Chief Federico said.
   ”We made a finding, the officer didn’t agree with the finding and requested a hearing,” Chief Federico said.
   ”Right now as the charges stand, the Police Department is recommending a 90-day suspension without pay,” Mr. Thibault said. Once the hearing officer presiding over the matter makes his finding, then the decision on disciplinary action ultimately lies with Princeton Borough Council, Mr. Thibault said.
   Chief Federico declined to comment on what disciplinary action the Police Department would seek, subsequent to the additional charges filed against Ptl. Brown.
   The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Thursday, April 16 at 9 a.m. at Borough Hall, Mr. Thibault said. At that hearing, he said he intends to call New York State troopers who dealt with the matter to testify.