In the midst of a federal probe of off-duty work performed by Jersey City police officers, the city has stripped 12 cops of their guns and placed them on non-enforcement duty.

The city confirmed the move this morning in a statement from city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill. Morrill did not reveal the names of the 12 officers.

The news comes as the police department braces for arrests that sources with knowledge of the federal probe say are expected this month. The officers are being investigated possibly for taking improper payments in relation to the off-duty work program, according to law-enforcement sources.

"For some time, we have been working with the FBI on an investigation into allegations of misconduct by a number of members of the Jersey City Police Department regarding the off-duty program," Morrill's statement reads. "At this point in the investigation, we have made the decision to take an administrative action to remove the firearms of 11 active members and place them on non-enforcement duties."

A 12th officer was added to the list after Morrill issued that statement. The dozen cops put on modified duty this week have not been charged with a crime.

Carmine Disbrow, president of the Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association, asked the public not to rush to judgment.

"Until the facts of this case become more apparent, we ask the public not to rush to judgement, and to keep in mind the tremendous efforts of the JCPD to keep our city safe," Disbrow said in a statement. "While we keep an eye on this ongoing investigation, the efforts of our members remain on protecting and serving our community."

Jersey City police officers are permitted to work off-duty providing security for private companies, which are supposed to go through the city when seeking officers. The city charges an administrative fee of $12 an hour in addition to what the company pays the officer. That fee was expected to total nearly $300,000 for the city last year.

One now-former police officer, Juan Romaniello, has already pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit fraud and accept corrupt payments and one count of filing a false tax return. Federal prosecutors say Romaniello accepted nearly $230,000 in direct payments for off-duty work.

Federal prosecutors say Romaniello agreed with private companies to cut Jersey City out of the process of hiring off-duty officers; permitted companies to operate without cops at sites where police presence was required; and provided security himself without notifying the city.

Christopher Adams, Romaniello's attorney, said he had no comment on today's city action. Adams said he doesn't know when Romaniello will be sentenced.

"Mr. Romaniello has accepted responsibility for his actions and agreed to plead guilty and face punishment," he said.

When Romaniello's guilty plea was announced in September, federal prosecutors said he orchestrated his conspiracy with "other police officers." At the time, Matthew Reilly, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's Office, declined to say whether his office is considering charges against other cops.

Reilly had no comment on today's city action.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.