Officer James Wade Charged with Falsifying Timesheets

A Bayonne police officer and second man surrendered to the Hudson County Sheriff's Office this morning on charges they falsified their timesheets while working as security guards at Global Terminal containerport on the Jersey City/Bayonne border, officials said.

Police Officer James Wade, 33, of Columbus Drive in Bayonne, and Steven Hogan, 53, of Maywood, then made their first appearance on the charge of theft by deception in Central Judicial Processing Court in Jersey City this afternoon.

Bayonne Police Chief Robert Kubert was shocked at the charge against Wade.

"I'd be surprised if it turns out to be a fact because he's one of my best officers, but we will see what happened down the road," Kubert told The Jersey Journal. "I'd be quite surprised if anything came out of it."

Waterfront Commission Executive Director Walter Arenault said both men were employed as port watchmen by the commission through a private security firm.

Both are charged with falsifying their timesheets to show they worked more hours than they actually did, and thereby being paid more money than they should have, officials said.

Eleven people have already been charged in the same investigation, which began more than a year ago and led to a warrant being signed this morning for the arrest of Hogan and Wade, Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Karyn Pizzelanti.

Wade is the only police officer charged, she said.

The others charged have all entered into pre-trial intervention and if they comply with the terms of PTI, the charges against them will be removed from their record.

Arenault said the continuing investigation led to the charges against Hogan and Wade and he also said charges against additional people are possible.

Wade was not representing the Bayonne Police Department in any way at the time of the alleged crime, officials said.

Wade has been placed on desk duty following his surrender this morning and he will remain in the status pending a review of the charges by Bayonne police, Kubert said.

At today's hearing, CJP Judge Richard Nieto set bail for Wade and Hogan at $20,000 cash or bond for each and he then ordered them remanded to the Hudson County jail in Kearny.