A Long Branch police officer agreed to give up his job and pleaded guilty Thursday to offensively touching a woman during a party celebrating the promotions of fellow officers at a bar.

Patrick D. Joyce, Jr., 35, entered the guilty plea to harassment, a disorderly persons offense, in Monmouth County Superior Court. An agreement with prosecutors calls for the 12-year police veteran to serve probation and forfeit public employment in New Jersey.

Patrick Joyce Jr.

“The vast majority of law enforcement officers perform their duties with integrity and honor,” Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said. “However, when a police officer takes advantage of the very citizens they are sworn to protect, it erodes public confidence and violates the public’s trust. Such behavior will never be acceptable or tolerated.”

At a court hearing, Joyce admitted he “offensively touched” a 21-year-old woman during a private party on Feb. 1 at Jack’s Goal Line Stand in the city, according to the prosecutor’s office. The cop was attending a celebration for fellow officers when the incident occurred.

Joyce has been suspended from his $121,232 post as the case progressed.

“We want to thank the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office for their efforts in this case, and hope the conclusion closes the door on a painful chapter for the victim and the Long Branch Police Department,” city Police Chief Jason Roebuck said.

“We can only hope that the victim and the victim’s family finds closure in the outcome. There is no place in law enforcement for anyone who commits these offenses, and the Long Branch Police Department will not tolerate inappropriate conduct by any of its members,” the chief said.

The officer has found himself in the headlines over his career with the city’s police department. In 2017, Joyce was the victim of an assault during an altercation in Long Branch.

He was charged in 2010 with aggravated assault following an off-duty brawl outside a Neptune Township club, NJ Advance Media previously reported. Joyce was suspended and later pleaded guilty to simple assault and received a year of probation.

The officer has also received praised for his work with the department. In 2013, he earned an award for disarming a gun-toting suspect. He was given an “honorable service” mention by the department in 2017.

A defense attorney listed for Joyce did not immediately return a call for comment.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters