Rockaway township police officer donald j. Reddin, 34, has been charged with obstruction and conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and is suspended without pay, according to the morris county prosecutor's office. Photo illustration by snn.
Rockaway Township Police Officer Donald J. Reddin, 34, has been charged with obstruction and conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and is suspended without pay, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. Photo Illustration by SNN.

Rockaway Township Police Officer Charged With Obstruction, Drug Distribution Conspiracy

Morris County prosecutors allege Officer Donald J. Reddin gave privileged information to the target of a criminal investigation before a search warrant was executed.
Posted by
1 min read
September 3, 2026
  • Donald J. Reddin, 34, of Wharton, faces obstruction and conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance charges.
  • Prosecutors allege Reddin warned the subject of a criminal investigation about police activity near his residence on March 12.
  • Reddin, a Rockaway Township police officer at the time of the alleged conduct, is suspended without pay.

ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Rockaway Township police officer has been charged after allegedly providing privileged information to the subject of a criminal investigation, interfering with the execution of a search warrant, Morris County prosecutors announced Thursday.

Donald J. Reddin, 34, of Wharton, was charged Aug. 31 with one count of fourth-degree obstruction of a government operation and one count of third-degree conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll and Acting Chief of Detectives Mark Castellano.

Prosecutors allege Reddin was employed as a Rockaway Township police officer when the conduct occurred. He is now suspended without pay.

The allegations center on a criminal investigation underway March 12. According to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Reddin allegedly provided privileged information to the person who was the subject of that investigation.

Authorities specifically allege Reddin told the person not to leave his residence because police activity was taking place in the area. Prosecutors said the alleged warning “negatively affected the execution of a search warrant during an investigation.”

The Prosecutor’s Office did not identify the subject of that investigation in its announcement or provide additional details about the underlying drug case. Authorities also did not specify the controlled dangerous substance involved in Reddin’s conspiracy charge or describe the alleged conduct supporting that count beyond announcing the charge.

Reddin was charged by summons complaint, processed and released pending a court appearance.

The case adds to recent prosecutions involving law-enforcement officers in Morris County. Shore News Network has previously reported on a suspended Dover police officer who pleaded guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material, as well as other cases investigated by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. SNN has also covered the county’s Narcotics Task Force investigations, including cases involving alleged drug distribution and conspiracy charges.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.