Former New Jersey police officer and fire chief indicted for assaulting 11 firefighters

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that a state grand jury indicted Robert Sinnott Jr., 53, on new counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, second-degree official misconduct and a pattern of official misconduct. The indictment alleges that the retired Island Heights police officer, who also served as chief of the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company, created situations where he was alone with eleven firefighters, handcuffing or restraining them under the guise of police-related training before forcing sexual contact.

One victim was allegedly hog-tied with a mechanical device and photographed, while another was head-locked, handcuffed, and subjected to lewd acts in Sinnott’s home and vehicle. The victims initially viewed Sinnott as a mentor and feared retaliation. He was arrested at his Cape Coral, Florida residence in December, extradited to New Jersey, and remains out of jail pending trial. Sinnott’s attorney Michael Ansell says his client will fight the charges, noting prior state-level attempts to prosecute in 2023 were unsuccessful.