New Jersey Cop Chooses Pizza Over Murder Investigation While 911 Calls Pour In
When duty called, this sergeant went for pepperoni instead.
The Call That Could Wait (Apparently)
On the evening of August 1st, Franklin Township Police Sergeant Kevin Bollaro faced a choice that would define his career: respond immediately to multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots and screaming, or make a slight detour to check his bank balance. He picked the ATM.
Neighbors in Pittstown were calling 911 with reports of gunshots and screaming. Dispatchers relayed these calls to Bollaro, who was, according to GPS data, driving nearly two miles in the opposite direction. His first stop: a bank ATM. Perhaps he needed cash for what came next. (Spoiler: it was pizza.)
The sergeant then proceeded toward the callers’ locations without activating his emergency lights or sirens. Speed limits still applied, apparently, even when people were potentially bleeding. When he arrived at the first caller’s location, Bollaro reported hearing nothing and told dispatch he’d check the other locations. Prosecutors say GPS data proves he never actually visited those other addresses before asking dispatch to clear him from the scene.
An Hour at Duke’s
After his abbreviated investigation of exactly one location, Bollaro headed straight to Duke’s Pizzeria in Pittstown. He stayed for nearly an hour.
We don’t know what he ordered. We don’t know if he ate in or took it to go. We know he was there, inside a pizzeria, for approximately 60 minutes while two bodies lay dead 600 feet from where someone had called 911 about gunshots and screaming. The mozzarella must have been exceptional.
Witnesses then saw him park at another local restaurant, where he remained for roughly another hour. Two restaurants. Two hours. Zero additional investigation into the gunshots and screaming that multiple people had reported. (At least he was thorough about his dining options.)
During this two-hour culinary expedition, Bollaro later submitted a report claiming he was canvassing the area. GPS data revealed he was already driving toward Duke’s Pizzeria during the timeframe he said he was investigating. Prosecutors charged him with tampering with public records for these false statements.
Two Football Fields Away
On August 2nd, police discovered the bodies of Lauren Semanchik, 33, and Tyler Webb, 29, in a home roughly 600 feet from the first 911 caller’s location. Two football fields. The length of six average city blocks. Close enough that if someone screamed during the murders, the neighbors who called 911 probably heard it directly.
The victims had been shot to death by New Jersey State Police Lieutenant Ricardo Santos, who then killed himself. A state police lieutenant committed a double murder while a township police sergeant was deciding between restaurants. (Your tax dollars at work, New Jersey.)
The families of the victims stated they were “shocked at Sgt. Bollaro’s egregious conduct” and believe it represents problems beyond just this one officer’s decisions. When your local police department’s response to a double murder involves an ATM stop and a pizza break, residents start questioning whether the property taxes are worth it. The pizza better be incredible.
Court Date Set
Bollaro now faces charges of official misconduct for knowingly refraining from performing his duties, plus tampering with public records for the false statements in his report. He’s due in court November 5th, where one assumes he’ll skip the pre-trial snacks.
His attorney, Charles Sciarra, called the charges “unfortunate” and maintained that nothing Bollaro did or didn’t do that day could have stopped the killings. This defense relies on the assumption that police officers showing up to active crime scenes serves no purpose whatsoever. That’s a bold strategy.
The Franklin Township Police Department has not commented on whether they’ve revised their response protocols. One hopes the new training manual includes a section titled “Respond to Murder Before Lunch.” Apparently some departments need this spelled out. Perhaps they could laminate it and post it next to the dispatch radio. Right above the Duke’s Pizzeria menu.
Views: 13