MONMOUTH COUNTY – A Brielle police officer, who calls Brick Township home, has been charged for accessing multiple law enforcement databases for his own personal use, officials said.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office confirms that 37-year-old Brian M. Dreher is charged with one count of third-degree Computer Theft.
From December 2020 to November 2023, Dreher had accessed multiple law enforcement database systems to look up information on several people within his personal life. Dreher is currently suspended without pay, officials said.
“Any transgression of this nature by an officer is unacceptable,” Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said. “While this officer’s action is not indicative of the majority of our police officers across Monmouth County, we must continue to hold our officers responsible to build upon the trust of the community we serve.”
“This is a very sad and disappointing situation,” Brielle Police Chief Gary Olsen said. “When any officer engages in this type of conduct, he/she violates the trust and integrity of the community in which they have sworn to protect and serve. Police officers are held to a higher standard, and it is essential that we always do the right thing in order to maintain public confidence in our police department. Behavior such as this is unacceptable, and will never be tolerated.”
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
