Veteran Edison cop gets one year probation for lying
BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer

EDISON — A former Edison police officer was sentenced to a year of probation for lying to investigators about a company that he'd been working for as a security officer on a part-time basis.

Adam Tietchen, 64, who was a 29-year veteran of the Edison police force, pleaded guilty on May 21 to a charge of obstructing the administration of justice, which is classified as a disorderly persons offense.

The charge came after investigators asked Tietchen back in February about his relationship with an employee of Birnwell Apparel, where he moonlighted as a security guard. He told investigators at the time that he knew of the employee but rarely spoke with him. As time went on, however, investigators discovered that Tietchen spoke with the employee in question on a frequent basis. He later admitted that he provided false and misleading information to police who were investigating the business.

Immediately after Tietchen's plea, authorities declined to divulge the nature of the investigation surrounding Birnwell Apparel. Tietchen was suspended without pay upon being charged. He retired last month after entering his guilty plea. As part of his plea, he cannot seek a job again in law enforcement.