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Damien De Fazio, 30, and Jonathan Rivera, 26, are on restricted duty until the charges against them are eventually dismissed — most likely before the end of the month, a source with direct knowledge of the investigation told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
Sources were unsure of the fate of special Officer Gabriel Semeraro, who they said may face disciplinary action following an investigation that has been completed by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
Records show that Semeraro’s friend had called him from a parking area behind a North Bergen warehouse off 83rd Street and West Side Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Oct. 21.
She said her date brought her there after she got drunk and then became overly aggressive, a source with direct knowledge of the incident told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
The three officers, who live together, all went there and pulled him out of the car, the source said.
The man later told police that one of the officers — who hasn’t been publicly identified — pulled a gun. They then took the woman with them, he said.
No shots were reported and no one was hurt, authorities said at the time. However, all three were reported to be carrying their on-duty weapons.
As full-fledged police officers, De Fazio (with seven years of service with the department) and Rivera (six years) are permitted to carry when off duty. Semeraro, who has been an auxiliary officer since 2009, isn’t.
North Bergen police tracked down the trio and arrested them shortly after the man contacted them. Aggravated assault and weapons charges were filed.
An investigation by the prosecutor’s office — including a through interview with the woman — followed, CLIFFVIEW PILOT‘s source said.
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