Former Glo. Twp. Cop Sentenced to Year on Probation
Thomas Eden Jr., arrested last spring while illegally purchasing prescription pills, must also complete drug counseling and forfeit
A former Gloucester Township police officer accused last April of illegally buying prescription drugs while on duty was sentenced on Thursday to one year on probation and forfeiture of his ability to hold public office in New Jersey.
Thomas E. Eden Jr., 31, must also complete drug counseling as part of the sentence, according to Camden County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Jason Laughlin.
Eden immediately lost his job on the township police force when he entered a guilty plea to a single count of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance last month.
Eden was arrested the afternoon of April 3 at the Howard Johnson Express Inn at 832 N. Black Horse Pike, in the township's Blenheim section, after he allegedly purchased seven prescription pills (oxycodone and Percocet) from a police informant. He was driving a township police cruiser at the time of his arrest.
Eden was charged with third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), third-degree possession with intent to distribute CDS, third-degree possession of imitation CDS and second-degree possession of a firearm while committing a drug offense.
Eden was a seven-year veteran of the police force.
Margaret Mcewan
7:05 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Does he get a lesser sentence being a police officer?
Schu
8:12 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Lately, everyone who does something wrong around GT gets a lesser sentence.
Joe
6:57 am on Saturday, February 23, 2013
He should have killed a police dog, then he wouldn't get jail time.
Charles
9:19 am on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Maybe that time could be spent determining how he got started on prescription drugs. That might lead to new procedures to reduce the bad effects of good intentions.
He has lost so much; do we need to beat him up more?
Voice of Reason
10:24 am on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Seems like a lame sentence for a police officer doing this stuff on the job. Who knows how this addiction compromised his judgment and execution of his duties. Police should be held to a higher standard and sentenced accordingly.
Debbie Shinn
9:27 am on Monday, February 25, 2013
Public Servants should be held to the same standards as everyone else. Polce are also subject to the same weakness and flaws. Addiction is the same for them as everyone else. It just HURTS.. Having everything taken away instead of dealing with the addiction and why it happened only helps to bury the real issue. Our doctors and big PHARMA have become nothing more than pushers in the name of Health Care. This guy did not hook himself on this stuff but we sure want to hold him accoutable for getting hooked. Makes no sense. Holding others to a higher standard is part of the NIBY syndrome. If you want others held to a higher standard, raise the standards you hold yourself first.
EaglesFan856
1:50 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
I do think this sentence was pretty light, but hopefully he gets the help he needs. Drug addiction is a tough battle.
Dorothy Blindenbacher
2:07 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Seven pills! Not a very big bust. Is he addicted because of pain? I think the punishment fits the crime. He lost his career and that is a hard price for anyone to pay. Everyone deserves a second chance to put his/her life right. Where does all the self-righteous anger around here come from?
Darren Gladden
2:53 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Our Poor Leadership sorry Dorothy THAT what I think .....
l Paine
4:37 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Seven pills may not be a big bust, but the fact is he illegally bought perscription drugs and compounded it by doing so in uniform representing GTPD and it's residents. As a police officer he knows the law and most likely has seen and maybe even arrested other individuals for the same thing, so he knew the consequences of his actions. Does he deserve a second chance? Yes, after he finishes his sentence and not as an officer of GTPD.
B...
1:40 am on Sunday, February 24, 2013
Hahahaha If he wasn't gt slob then I bet he would have went to jail. Just for the pills alone. Thats bs how they treat them different just because they carry a badge 98% of gt cops are scumbags.
Charles
1:48 pm on Sunday, February 24, 2013
I hope this is the raving of a drunken fool, not just another slobbering idiot! 98% (or more) of GT cops are decent guys/gals doing a thankless job. They deserve RESPECT for their service, just as our military.
EaglesFan856
4:08 pm on Sunday, February 24, 2013
Scumbags? You seem like a real nice person. You do not have to like the police, but you should respect what they do.
Joe
3:04 pm on Sunday, February 24, 2013
Gt pd are paid well for their thankless job. And if you don't think so, then they asked for the job and should act accordingly.
Charles
10:41 pm on Sunday, February 24, 2013
They aren't paid as well as the Freeloaders (elected and otherwise) and do far more in one shift than the "shiftless" in a lifetime.