Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey announced today that an
investigation is underway concerning the issuance of firearms permits by the
Carteret Police Department.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office has learned that numerous
Permits to Purchase Firearms and/or Firearms Purchaser identification Cards
(FPIC), issued by the Carteret Police Department, pursuant to the authority in
N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3, have been issued without a proper and complete investigation,
as required by the statute, the requirements of the Middlesex County
Prosecutor’s Office, and N.J.A.C. 13:54-1.3 et seq.
The investigation has revealed that since approximately 2015, required
background checks have not been properly conducted, including failure to verify
mental health status, as well as verifying the existence, or absence, of criminal
records. There are approximately 38
possible permits to purchase firearms which have been issued without proper
investigation by the Carteret Police Department. In five of these cases, which exhibited
serious statutory deficiencies, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office has
filed documents with the New Jersey Superior Court seeking revocation of those
firearms permits.
Carteret Police Director Kenneth Lebrato, and other members of the
Carteret Police Department are cooperating with the Prosecutor’s Office in an
effort to rectify the problem. In
addition, the New Jersey State Police is providing assistance in the issuance
of new applications for permits. The
assistance of the NJSP is appreciated, and will continue until such time as the
present investigation has concluded, and the Prosecutor’s Office is assured
that the Carteret Police Department has remedied all procedural issues.
The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call
Sergeant Michael Daniewicz of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at
732-745-4018.