A former senior correctional police officer is now headed to state prison as an inmate.
David Cade, 54, of Clayton, was given a three-year sentence after pleading guilty to smuggling drugs into South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton in exchange for money, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said Friday.
“Correctional police officers put their lives on the line daily, relying on each other to ensure the safety of both fellow officers and inmates,” State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan said. “Cade’s conduct not only jeopardized lives, it betrayed New Jersey’s law enforcement community and citizens alike, who rightfully demand that those entrusted to uphold the law are held to a higher standard.”
Cade was paid $1,000 by a woman to smuggle 50 pills into an inmate. As part of the deal, Cade also gave the woman 21 Suboxone strips, which dissolve in the mouth.
Right after Cade made the transaction with the woman April 18, 2018, he was arrested by State Police and his service firearm was seized.
“Cade took an oath to uphold our laws and maintain security in South Woods State Prison,” Grewal said. “By conspiring to smuggle highly addictive opioid painkillers into the prison, he betrayed his oath in a way that threatened the safety of officers as well as inmates. This prison sentence sends a strong message that we will aggressively prosecute this type of official corruption.”
Under the plea agreement, Cade is permanently barred from public employment.
“The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability works closely with other departments of government and public agencies to root out corrupt conduct in their ranks, conduct that in this case undermined safety and security in a state prison,” said Director Thomas Eicher, of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. “I commend the Department of Corrections and the New Jersey State Police for their excellent work in detecting and investigating this corrupt correctional police officer.”
The state Department of Corrections has a zero-tolerance policy for those using their position to engage in illegal activity, acting DOC Commissioner Marcus O. Hicks said.
“Cade’s misconduct severely jeopardized the safety and security of both our inmate population and officers, and justice demanded that he face serious consequences for those actions,” Hicks said.
The Attorney General’s Office has an Anti-Corruption Reward Program that offers a reward of as much as $25,000 for tips from the public leading to a conviction for a crime involving public corruption. Information is posted on the Attorney General’s website HERE.
