Officer David Yanvary Arrested for Shoplifting

EDISON

An Edison police detective, a 22-year veteran of the force, has been charged with shoplifting from a township supermarket while working there as a security guard, police said Thursday.

David Yanvary, 54, was arrested Wednesday, about two weeks after ShopRite security officials say he stole $42 worth of items during an evening shift at the Route 1 store.

He was formally charged Wednesday at Edison police headquarters and released on his own recognizance, but has been suspended with pay, police said. Prior to the suspension, he had been assigned to the Edison Police Department Juvenile Unit.

Yanvary, whose yearly salary is $113,000, is accused of taking a candle, a DVD, cooking oil and honey while working at the store on March 17, police Lt. Joseph Shannon said. Shop Rite contacted police about the alleged incident, prompting an investigation by the department's Internal Affairs unit.

"Any allegation of illegal conduct by a police officer is a very serious matter,'' Chief Thomas Bryan said in a statement Thursday. He added that the investigation was continuing.

Yanvary's attorney, Timothy Smith, said his client was "overtly falsely accused'' by a "vindictive manager'' at ShopRite. He also said Yanvary has an "impeccable record'' during more than two decades as an officer and eight years as a township employee before that.

"We're relishing the opportunity to have the case adjudicated in court and have him fully vindicated,'' said the South Orange-based attorney, adding that he was "confident that he had all of the receipts'' for the merchandise.

Smith also said his client had filed for retirement before the charges came to light, and said he didn't believe there was a connection.

Township records show that Yanvary filed for a retirement that would be effective April 1.

Brian Collier, a former Drug Enforcement Agency special agent, was appointed police director a year ago after a series of embarrassing episodes involving several Edison police officers. The civilian post was proposed by first-term Mayor Jun Choi, who called for greater accountability in the force.

"Whenever a police officer is accused of a crime, it is a sad day for law enforcement and the community,'' Collier said in a statement to the Home News Tribune. "However, let me very clear, this will not stop our progress in bringing professionalism and accountability to this department."