A Fairfield police officer was sentenced Wednesday to two years probation for lying to law enforcement officials who were investigating a bar brawl NEWTON — A former Essex County police officer was sentenced Wednesday to two years probation for lying to law enforcement officials who were investigating a bar brawl involving two of his friends who were both known to be associated with the Hells Angels motorcycle gang.
Anthony Gerardi, 49, a 24-year Fairfield police officer, who was also sentenced to perform 200 hours of community service by Superior Court Judge N. Peter Conforti, sitting in Newton.
"What is the role of a police officer? As seen so many times on police cars, their role is to protect and service. As we see in this case, he (Gerardi) did not," said Conforti.
As part of a plea bargain agreement, Gerardi resigned from the Fairfield police department and will not receive full retirement benefits. He was expected to receive an annual pension of about $61,700, records show.
Gerardi pleaded guilty to third-degree hindering apprehension for his role in the Jan. 12 attempted coverup of an attack on a patron who was hit in the head with a mug at a bar on Route 23 in the Stockholm section of Hardyston.
Just prior to sentencing, Gerardi told the judge he regretted the incident.
"I made a huge mistake that night," he said.
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