Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office

                                 25 Kirkpatrick Street, 3rd Floor, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901 (732) 745-3300

 

                                *News Release*          Date: May 27, 2009  

                                                      
 
 

 

 


Police officer pleads guilty to disorderly persons offense

 

 

          Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan, Edison Police Director Brian Collier and Edison Police Chief Thomas J. Bryan announced that a township police officer pleaded guilty today to a count of obstruction of the administration of law.

 

Officer Adam Tietchen, (DOB 11/16/44) a resident of Edison, admitted providing false and misleading information to police during an investigation into an unrelated case.

 

Under a plea agreement reached with Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Brian D. Gillet, Tietchen pleaded guilty to the disorderly persons offense and must resign from the police department, where he served as an officer for more than 29 years.

 

In addition, Tietchen may never again seek or accept a job in law enforcement, and will be sentenced to a probationary term of one year.

 

He pleaded guilty today during a hearing before Superior Court Judge Frederick P. DeVesa in the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick. The judge is scheduled to impose the sentence on June 23 at 11 a.m.

 

Tietchen pleaded guilty after a summons was signed against him May 21, 2009, charging him with obstruction. He was suspended from duty without pay.

 

The complaint was signed against the officer during an investigation by the Edison Police Department and Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office into a company known as Birnwell Apparel on Brunswick Avenue in Edison.

 

Since that investigation is continuing, the nature of the probe cannot be disclosed. However, during the investigation, police questioned Tietchen, who worked security for the company.

 

On February 3, 2009, the officer was asked if he knew a specific employee. Tietchen said he knew the employee, but rarely spoke to him. Investigators subsequently determined Tietchen talked frequently with the employee.

 

Chief Bryan said improper conduct by police officers will not be tolerated.

 

‘’The Edison Police Department is committed to the highest degree of professionalism in our service to the community,’’ the chief said. ‘’Our residents and business owners deserve nothing less.’’

 

‘’Officer Tietchen not only betrayed the public trust, but he betrayed the dedicated men and women of the Edison Police Department. My administration has a zero tolerance policy concerning any type of police misconduct,’’ Chief Bryan said.

 

Director Collier said he appreciated efforts to bring the case against Tietchen to a close.

 

‘’I would like to thank the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office for helping the Edison Police Department enforce our zero tolerance policy,’’ Director Collier said.

 

Anyone with information on the on-going investigation of Birnwell Apparel is asked to call Lt. Greg Formica of the Edison Police Department at (732) 248-7424.