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Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Officer Charged with Narcotics Evidence Tampering
Lt. Kevin T. Matthew Improperly Checked Out Cocaine and Fentanyl Evidence and Had Razors with Cocaine Residue in His Office, Investigation Found.
Morristown, NJ: The Attorney General's Office, in collaboration with the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), on December 19, 2023, announced significant criminal charges against Lieutenant Kevin T. Matthew, an officer with the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office (BCPO). The charges follow an intensive investigation that uncovered Matthew's unauthorized removal and mishandling of narcotics evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia, and evasion of financial transaction reporting requirements.
Matthew, 47, from Cedar Grove, NJ, faces serious allegations including official misconduct, tampering with physical evidence, possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, and structuring financial transactions. He has been on leave since November 3, 2023, pending the outcome of this investigation.
The charges, currently accusations, come after a detailed inquiry by the OPIA’s Corruption Bureau. It's important to note that Matthew is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin expressed deep concern over these allegations, highlighting the gravity of such misconduct by a law enforcement officer entrusted with public safety. Platkin stressed the importance of accountability, particularly for officers who illegally betray public trust.
Thomas J. Eicher, Executive Director of OPIA, reinforced the commitment to maintaining public confidence in law enforcement and the justice system. He emphasized that legal accountability applies universally, including to those in uniform.
The investigation into Matthew's conduct revealed that, despite his role in the Special Victims Unit and not being part of a narcotics unit, he accessed police databases to locate drug cases and unlawfully signed out narcotics from the BCPO's main evidence vault in Paramus. Over the period from October 2022 to November 2023, he reportedly took custody of multiple items confirmed as cocaine and fentanyl by the New Jersey State Police Lab, without any authorized purpose.
Investigators observed Matthew carrying bags capable of holding the narcotics he signed out, raising suspicion about his handling of these items. It was found that some evidence items returned to the vault were significantly altered, despite attempts to present them as unchanged.
Furthermore, two razor blades with cocaine residue were discovered in Matthew's office, a common tool in cocaine distribution and usage. This discovery further implicates him in the mishandling of evidence.
Additionally, an examination of Matthew's bank records during the period of evidence tampering revealed a pattern of cash deposits across various banks and dates, allegedly to circumvent federal reporting requirements for transactions over $10,000.
These charges against Matthew include two counts of second-degree official misconduct, third-degree tampering with public records, third-degree structuring financial transactions, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and disorderly persons offense for possession of drug paraphernalia. Convictions could result in substantial prison time and fines.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Mary Catherine Ryan and Deputy Attorney General Amy Sieminski, under the leadership of Corruption Bureau Chief Peter Lee, OPIA Deputy Director Anthony Picione, and OPIA Director Eicher. This ongoing investigation underscores the relentless efforts to ensure integrity and trust in New Jersey's law enforcement.
