Long Branch detective still on duty after vehicular homicide charge

LONG BRANCH - The detective who authorities say was driving intoxicated when he struck and killed a pedestrian is still on duty with the city's Traffic Safety Bureau, authorities confirmed.

Detective Jake Pascucci, 28, is working "in a support capacity," Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Andrea Boulton told the Asbury Park Press.

State Attorney General's Office guidelines allow — but do not necessarily require — police departments to suspend officers charged with first-, second-, or third-degree crimes. Strict-liability vehicular manslaughter is a third-degree crime.

Acting Chief Jason Roebuck was not available for comment.

Pascucci was off duty on Sept. 22, driving his 2016 Jeep Cherokee south on Ocean Boulevard when he struck Karen Borkowski, 66, of Stanhope, who was crossing near South Broadway around 8:15 p.m., the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said at the time.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The collision cratered the hood of Pascucci's Jeep, as shown on a dashboard camera video, which the Press obtained through a records request. A voice on the footage, presumably Pascucci's, says he was driving through a green light when Borkowski "walked right out in front of me."

Monmouth County began the investigation, since Pascucci had been assigned to a task force with the county — one that had netted dozens of narcotics arrests. Monmouth County, however, relinquished the investigation to Middlesex.

A city police captain signed summonses for careless and reckless driving against Pascucci on Oct. 22. Four days later Pascucci received a Municipal Court summons for driving while intoxicated. On Oct. 31, a Middlesex County detective signed a complaint against Pascucci charging him with strict-liability vehicular homicide.

In response to a request for records, city police confirmed that Pascucci had not left the department and was currently assigned to the Traffic Safety Bureau, at a $69,193 salary.

Pascucci has been with Long Branch police for about three years, following three years as an officer in Oceanport. He received a commendation in December 2014 for successfully arresting an armed man after a five-hour standoff.

City police named him officer of the month in February 2015, they posted to Facebook at the time.

In response to a records request from the Press for awards, commendations and meritorious citations, city police responded only that Pascucci had received three unit citations but did not forward copies of the citations themselves.

The type of homicide charge Pascucci is facing is relatively new. Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill known as "Ralph and David's Law" in July; it established strict liability vehicular homicide as a third-degree crime. The bill was named for 49-year-old Ralph Politi of East Hanover and 13-year-old David Heim of Sussex County. Drunken drivers killed both of them, but they could only be convicted of driving while intoxicated.

The new law established strict penalties for causing death while driving intoxicated.

For data on crashes that kill pedestrians check out the video at the top of this article.

Alex N. Gecan: @GeeksterTweets; 732-643-4043; agecan@gannettnj.com