Police Chief Indicted for Insurance Fraud

A Hackensack, New Jersey grand jury returned a 13-count indictment that lists the arrests of four individuals including a police chief, police captain and a detective for their alleged roles in the cover-up of a drunken driving incident, filing a false insurance claim, and a burglary.

According to Cliffview Pilot, Hackensack Police Chief Charles “Ken” Zisa, 56, Kathleen Tiernan, 49, Capt. Danilo Garcia and Detective Thomas Aletta, both 42, were all indicted for their alleged roles in covering up a drunken driving incident involving Zisa’s live-in girlfriend, Kathleen Tiernan, and a burglary involving Tiernan’s son.

“The cover-up of a drunken crash prosecutors said Tiernan had in February 2008: After she smashed Zisa’s SUV into a utility pole at quarter to 1 in the morning, the chief showed up, snatched her from officers on the scene, and drove her away — without allowing for a sobriety test, the indictment says. Zisa subsequently filed a bogus insurance claim, to which he and Tiernan attested, and the chief collected more than $11,000 for the car, it says.”

“A September, 2004 robbery and assault involving Tiernan‘s son and an unidentified second suspect who were both living with Zisa at the time: Although both were identified by the 15-year-old victim, the indictment alleges, Zisa prevented charges from being filed, with help from Garcia and Aletta.”

Several officers are helping the prosecution including Officer John Hermann, who was the second officer on the scene during the 2008 drunken driving incident.  Supposedly Tiernan was “visibly intoxicated” and once Zisa appeared on the scene he made it clear to the other officers that he was taking over the incident and there would be no investigation.  Hermann originally did not come forth with his account of that evening in fear of losing his job.

Tiernan and Zisa both face charges of insurance fraud and conspiracy, and Zisa is also charged with official misconduct and witness tampering.  Garcia faces charges of misconduct and conspiracy and Aletta faces charges of misconduct, conspiracy and evidence tampering.

City Police Captain, Tomas Padilla has been running the department since Zisa was suspended.  Convictions of the charges faced by the indicted carry a sentence of anywhere between 18 months to 10 years behind bars.  And although New Jersey has a history of state and federal judges not looking favourably towards police officers breaking the law, all parties are innocent until proven guilty.