Police light at a crime scene; file photo — Police Light at a Crime Scene; File Photo

A Paterson police officer was arrested on aggravated assault charges stemming from a domestic violence incident and remains under criminal prosecution, according to New Jersey major discipline records.

A Paterson Police Department officer has been identified in New Jersey’s annual major discipline report after being charged in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident involving a firearm. The criminal case remains pending, and officials said any internal disciplinary investigation will proceed after the court matter is resolved.

Update: The case has since been dismissed, but not before being reported to the state.

Key Points

• Officer Gina Castagnetto was arrested on Jan. 7, 2025, in a domestic violence case
• She was charged with two counts of aggravated assault involving a firearm
• Criminal proceedings remain ongoing in Essex County Superior Court

The case appears in the New Jersey Attorney General’s annual major discipline report, which requires law enforcement agencies to publicly disclose serious disciplinary matters involving officers.

According to the report, Officer Gina Castagnetto of the Paterson Police Department was arrested by the Newark Police Department on Jan. 7, 2025.

Charges stem from domestic violence incident

The disciplinary summary states Castagnetto was charged with two counts of aggravated assault under New Jersey law. The charges allege she pointed a firearm at an individual protected under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act.

The report identifies the charges as violations of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1B(4), a section of state law addressing aggravated assault offenses involving the use or threatened use of a firearm.

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On January 7, 2025, Officer Gina Castagnetto was placed under arrest by the Newark Police
Department for a Domestic Violence incident where she was charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Assault
2C: 12-1B(4), specifically by pointing a firearm at a party protected by the Prevention of Domestic Violence
act. It should be noted this matter is still ongoing at the Essex County Superior Court. The Internal Affairs
investigation will commence at the completion of the Essex County Superior Court disposition.

Criminal case remains pending

According to the major discipline report, the matter remains active in Essex County Superior Court.

Paterson police officials indicated that an Internal Affairs investigation has not yet begun and will commence following the final disposition of the criminal case. The report does not list a suspension, termination, or other disciplinary sanction at this time.

As with all criminal defendants, Castagnetto is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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