SOURCES: Jersey City cop fired for alleged sick time fraud

Sources say Maria DeCristofaro was terminated as a JCPD police officer for allegedly committing fraud to obtain sick time, but Jersey City officials wouldn’t confirm or deny.

Maria DeCristofaro - Arkadiusz Zylkiewicz - Jersey City Police Dept.

Maria DeCristofaro & Arkadiusz Zylkiewicz of the Jersey City Police Department (JCPD).

Effective September 17, 2020, Maria DeCristofaro was terminated as a police officer with the Jersey City Police Department (JCPD) for multiple violations of N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3(a) – incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties; conduct unbecoming a public employee; neglect of duty; and other sufficient cause.

According to JCPD sources, DeCristofaro was fired for alleged sick time abuse that came to light via marital issues with another JCPD officer – Arkadiusz Zylkiewicz. The story spreading through the JCPD is that DeCristofaro forged a doctor’s note to obtain an extended period of time on sick leave.

Furthermore, sources say Zylkiewicz is supposedly responsible, or at least being blamed, for the JCPD Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) being notified of the alleged sick time fraud. When IAU contacted DeCristofaro, the officer supposedly lied about the situation – despite being offered multiple opportunities to tell the truth.

Real Garden State obtained a copy of the personnel order announcing the disciplinary action, signed by Chief Mike Kelly, but it’s short on details. A spokesperson for the City of Jersey City did not respond to an email asking if they could confirm or deny that DeCristofaro was terminated for alleged fraud related to sick time.

Additionally, DeCristofaro did not respond to a message sent via social media seeking comment on her termination. Sources say the officer plans to appeal the disciplinary action.

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