New Jersey officer visited ATM before responding to shooting, leading to missed double murder found the next day, prosecutors report.

A police sergeant in New Jersey is facing allegations of official misconduct in connection to the tragic shooting deaths of a veterinarian and her boyfriend. The incident has raised serious questions about police responsiveness and accountability within the local law enforcement agencies. Prosecutors have revealed that Sergeant Kevin Bollaro of the Franklin Township Police Department did not adequately respond to reports of gunshots and a distressed vocalization prior to the fatalities that occurred on August 2.

Victims Lauren Semanchik, 33, of Pittstown, and Tyler Webb, 29, of Forked River, were found deceased in Semanchik’s home on Upper Kingtown Road in Franklin Township. Earlier that night, a dispatcher informed Bollaro of gunshots and cries for help in the area. Instead of immediately proceeding to investigate, Bollaro reportedly stopped at an ATM to conduct a transaction. He was informed of additional reports of gunfire while at this location but continued on his way without activating emergency lights or sirens.

The prosecutor’s office stated that approximately 17 minutes elapsed from the initial report to the time Bollaro arrived at the scene to speak with the first caller, during which he also failed to engage with the other two witnesses who had called regarding the situation.

After his initial foray into police action, Bollaro allegedly spent the next several hours socializing at local establishments, including a pizzeria and a cemetery, all while failing to perform any documented law enforcement duties. Investigators later discovered that he submitted a false report regarding his activities that night.

The scrutiny surrounding Bollaro’s actions intensified as authorities linked the deaths of Semanchik and Webb to Lieutenant Ricardo Jorge Santos, a New Jersey State Police officer and Semanchik’s former boyfriend. Santos was later discovered dead in a vehicle, having suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The investigation revealed disturbing evidence of a cycle of harassment perpetrated by Santos. Semanchik had previously expressed concerns about his controlling behavior, prompting her to install a surveillance system in her vehicle.

Amidst this tragic backdrop, Semanchik had reported Santos’s behavior to local police, who purportedly failed to take appropriate action. An attorney representing the victims’ families indicated intentions to pursue legal action against both the New Jersey State Police and the Franklin Township Police Department for their apparent negligence leading up to the fatal incidents.

Bollaro has been charged with second-degree official misconduct and disorderly conduct for tampering with public records. He is set to make his first court appearance on November 5. As investigations continue, the repercussions of this case may prompt a broader examination of the efficacy and integrity of law enforcement responses in situations of reported domestic violence and distress.

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