---

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office announced via Facebook that former Asbury Park Police Officer Keith German has been sentenced to a 10 year prison sentence, without eligibility for parole. 

“This sentence sends a strong message that there will be zero tolerance for cops who commit crimes,” said Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni. “It only takes one bad cop to adversely affect the reputation of so many that do the job with honor and integrity.  For these reasons, the public should be reassured that we will continue to prosecute crooked cops to the fullest extent of the law.”

As part of his sentence, German is permanently barred from holding any public position in the state.

“This is a major transgression and should be treated as such,” Judge Oxley stated prior to handing down the sentence.

In September, a jury returned guilty verdicts for the majority of charges the 16-year Police Department veteran faced in relation to his participation in gang activity and stalking charges.

German, 49, of Tinton Falls, was found guilty of three counts of second degree official misconduct; one count each of second degree computer theft, unlawful access and disclosure; third degree hindering the apprehension of another; fourth degree conspiracy to commit stalking, and harassment.

During the trial, it was revealed that German used his official position to assist members of the Bloods criminal street gang avoid detection and prosecution by providing them with confidential law enforcement information, including on one occasion unlawfully accessing a law enforcement database, officials said.

His conviction was apart of a 14-month investigation dubbed “Operation Dead End,” which began in the summer of 2013.

Officials said the criminal organizations ran their activities out of two dead end streets in Asbury Park – Dewitt Avenue and from a section of Jersey Street in the Washington Village Public Housing Complex.

The investigation revealed that the members of the criminal organizations acted together to commit a series of armed robberies, residential burglaries, and thefts. Their organized shoplifting ring had an established relationship with owners of a local pawnshop, officials said. They regularly conspired to commit several different firearms-related offenses and distributed narcotics,  including cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, and molly – a form of ecstasy.

German’s co-defendants, Crips street gang member Haneef Walker, 25, and Bloods street gang member James Fair, 29, both of Asbury Park, are scheduled for sentencing on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, officials said. Both men were found guilty on numerous counts, including first degree Racketeering Conspiracy, for their respective roles in violent street crimes, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault and other criminal activity in and around the City.

The case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Matthew Bogner and Joseph Cummings. German was represented by Robert P. Ward of Brick.

————————————————————————————————————————-

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

---