Wall, NJ Police Sergeant charged with embezzling $75,000 from local PBA

A Wall Township Police Sergeant has been charged with second-degree Theft by Unlawful Taking after allegedly embezzling more than $75,000 from the very PBA chapter he was with, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago.

An investigation began after the Wall Township PBA Local No. 234 gave a receipt of referral to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Professional Responsibility & Bias Crime Bureau after seeing that there was a lot of money missing from their accounts following a fundraiser event in early 2022.

Upon further investigation, law enforcement on the case learned that this had been occurring on a yearly basis since 2018.

Prosecutor Santiago said that Sgt. James R. Cadigan, 40, typically ran this annual fundraiser for the Wall PBA Local No.234 from which money goes towards a number of charities in the community.

Each year, Cadigan allegedly withdrew money from several PBA bank accounts and then wrote out checks to himself and to cash.

This is what the investigation has found out so far, according to Prosecutor Santiago, but it continues today into how and why Cadigan used the PBA money for personal expenses.

Cadigan will have a future appearance inside the Monmouth County Superior Court.

Prosecutor Santiago said that this case is being prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, Director of the MCPO Professional Responsibility & Bias Crime Bureau and that Cadigan is being represented by Mitchell A. Ansell, Esq., in Ocean Township.

“Local police unions are so often the drivers of philanthropic and charitable endeavors, especially at this time of year, so it is deeply disheartening when any member of law enforcement leverages access to their funds in order to achieve personal financial gains,” Prosecutor Santiago said in a written statement. “We hope that the charges being announced today send a clear message that any such conduct is wholly unacceptable, and will be thoroughly and dutifully investigated and prosecuted.”

“The criminal charge against Sgt. Cadigan is not reflective of the honor, integrity, and fidelity routinely exhibited by the sworn members of this Police Department, as they are about protecting and serving the public in the execution of their daily duties,” Wall Township Police Chief Sean O’Halloran said in a written statement.

If you have any information on this Theft, you're asked to call MCPO Detective Brian Hammarstrom at 800-533-7443.