WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ – Investigators with the Monmouth County Prosecutors have charged a Wall Township cop after he allegedly stole $75,000 from a recent department PBA fundraising event.
On Monday, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced that a Wall Township Police Department Sergeant has been criminally charged with stealing more than $75,000 from his local Police Benevolent Association chapter.
A second-degree theft by unlawful taking charge has been filed against James R. Cadigan, 40.
“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. “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.”
As a result of a referral from Wall Township PBA Local No., the MCPO Professional Responsibility & Bias Crime Bureau initiated an investigation into this matter. In the wake of an annual fundraising event held earlier this year, the organization discovered that a significant amount of cash proceeds had been missing. Cadigan orchestrated and managed the event in 2022, as he had in many previous years, and the proceeds of the event are donated to various charities every year.
This investigation confirmed that significant amounts of cash were missing from the proceeds of the event, as well as finding that Cadigan made multiple unauthorized withdrawals of cash from multiple PBA bank accounts from at least 2018 and for each subsequent year. Additionally, the investigation is continuing to determine how Cadigan used the funds of the PBA, as well as the extent of the theft.
On Friday, Cadigan received a summons informing him of the charges against him. He will appear in Monmouth County Superior Court at a later date.
“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 added.