A 14-year police veteran pleaded guilty on Thursday to third-degree witness tampering in connection with a narcotics investigation involving him, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Deal Police Department’s Joseph Ammaturo, 38, of Long Branch, during his virtual plea proceeding, admitted to tampering with a witness regarding the pending narcotics investigation in December 2018.

Pursuant to his guilty plea, it was ordered that Ammaturo forfeit his position as a police office in the Borough of Deal, where he has been suspended without pay. The court also ordered that Ammaturo forfeit all future public employment in New Jersey.

“We will continue to hold law enforcement officers accountable for their actions. Bad cops will be weeded out as their illegal actions or infidelity of the public trust are discovered. Mr. Ammaturo can never hold public office in New Jersey ever again – that, coupled with probation, is an appropriate sentence. The community expects better of a law enforcement officer, and the law enforcement community holds its own officers to a higher standard. Mr. Ammaturo failed us all,”

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni

Ammaturo is scheduled to return for sentencing on Sept. 4, 2020. Along with his forfeiture of employment, Ammaturo faces an additional period of probation.

“Any violations of the law and betrayal of the public’s trust will not be tolerated by the members of the Deal Police Department,” Deal Police Chief Ronen Neuman said . 

The case is being prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, Director of the Office’s Professional Responsibility and Bias Crimes Unit.

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