Totowa Police Chief Arrested for DUI After Flipping on Sirens During Traffic Stop

Bodycam footage shows Veneziano was over 3 times the legal alcohol limit when pulled over in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:07pm

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Newly released bodycam footage shows the February 2025 arrest of Totowa Police Chief Carmen Veneziano, who authorities said was driving more than three times the legal alcohol limit in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Veneziano was seen activating his police lights and sirens while parked, ignoring an officer's attempts to pull him over, and later failing field sobriety tests. He later pleaded guilty to operating under the influence.

Why it matters

The incident raises concerns about public trust in law enforcement, as a police chief was caught driving under the influence and attempting to use his position of authority to avoid arrest. It also highlights the issue of repeat offenders, as Veneziano had been previously arrested in Massachusetts on charges of kidnapping and domestic assault.

The details

According to police papers, the DUI incident began around 2:03 a.m. on Feb. 23, when Point Pleasant Officer Michael Cappello saw a black SUV driving through a parking lot with its emergency lights and siren activated. Veneziano ignored the officer's attempts to pull him over, continuing onto Route 88 before turning onto Maplewood Road. Officers later observed the vehicle roll through a red light, swerve, and continue eastbound on Route 88 before turning onto Beaver Dam Road, where Veneziano was pulled over. Bodycam footage shows Veneziano appeared barely coherent, and he admitted to having 'a few drinks' earlier. He failed field sobriety tests, and his Alcotest results showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.249%, more than three times the legal limit.

  • The DUI incident occurred around 2:03 a.m. on February 23, 2025.
  • Veneziano pleaded guilty to operating under the influence on May 19, 2025.
  • Veneziano was previously arrested in December 2025 in Massachusetts on charges of kidnapping and domestic assault.

The players

Carmen Veneziano

The Totowa Police Chief who was arrested for DUI in Point Pleasant, New Jersey in February 2025.

Michael Cappello

The Point Pleasant police officer who initiated the traffic stop on Veneziano.

Brian Mulroony

The acting police chief of Totowa after Veneziano's arrest.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Veneziano out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the issue of public trust in law enforcement, as a police chief was caught driving under the influence and attempting to use his position of authority to avoid arrest. It also raises concerns about repeat offenders and the need for stricter accountability measures for those in positions of power.