Gloucester Twp. Officer Cops to Drug Charge, Loses Job
Thomas Eden is now an ex-Gloucester Township Police officer after his plea to a drug charge stemming from an April 2012 arrest.
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A Gloucester Township Police officer accused of buying drugs on the job pleaded guilty to a lesser charge Thursday and immediately lost his job.
Thomas Eden Jr., 31, of Sicklerville, reportedly bought prescription drugs while on duty in April 2012. A tip to police led officers to the Howard Johnson motel on the Black Horse Pike, where Eden—on duty, in uniform and driving a police cruiser—purchased oxycodone and Percocet pills from an undercover informant.
Eden pleaded guilty to third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance. While he’ll learn his sentence on Feb. 22, his plea deal calls for noncustodial probation. Eden also had to forfeit his position as a police officer, effective today, and cannot hold public office in New Jersey in the future.
Eden, a seven-year veteran of the force, had been charged with four drug and weapons offenses, all carrying possible prison sentences of three to 10 years.
The officer’s April arrest brought out the full court press from the police department. At the time, the police chief and Mayor David Mayer used words like “reprehensible” to describe the situation.
"I am angered that Mr. Eden allegedly abused his position of trust by violating the very laws he swore to uphold and defend as a Gloucester Township Police officer," Chief W. Harry Earle said then.
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matt dougherty
5:26 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Glad they removed him from the department !!!!!!!!!! He tarrnished the dept. with his stupidity ! Hope he goes to jail for a while, he certainly needs to !
My Common Sense
5:35 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Good.
Dennis A
5:51 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
It just goes to show you what people with addictions will do to support their habit. We need a crackdown on prescription drugs and the people who supply them. Very sad.
Schu
7:14 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Wonder how many others cops are doing the same thing who haven't been caught?
Charles
2:58 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
The Eden family has taken a few hits recently. While deserved, let's ease off the harsh words. Are we not all vulnerable?
Debbie Shinn
10:53 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
Unfortunately, big-pharma, doctors and our very health-care system have become the pushers. People don't start taking these drugs for kicks, they are prescribed, over prescibed and people get hooked under the care of thier own doctor. THEN, once someone is hooked, we turn around and walk away until something like this. THEN, we have plenty to say...