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Union City Cop Charged with Accessing Criminal Justice Information Database Unlawfully

Union City

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has announced that the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Public Integrity Unit, Internal Affairs Section in conjunction with the Union City Police Department, arrested and charged a Union City Police Officer with Computer Theft following an investigation.

Officials said that Weslley Hernandez, 29, of Clifton, was arrested just after 11 a.m. on Friday, February 19, at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City after he turned himself in with his attorney.

According to county officials, Hernandez has been charged with Computer Theft. 

The investigation discovered that Hernandez on diverse dates in June 2020 accessed the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Database and obtained information for purposes other than those authorized by his employment as a police officer.

“When it was brought to our attention that an officer from an unknown jurisdiction may be using his position to provide information to a criminal enterprise, the Department took immediate steps to confirm or dispel a Union City Officer’s involvement," Union City Police Chief Nichelle Luster said.

”In light of today's charges, the officer will be suspended without pay. We have a zero-tolerance policy for these types of actions and believe law enforcement must be held to the highest of standards.”

This is an ongoing investigation and additional arrests and/or charges are possible.

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