A police officer in New Jersey is facing criminal charges for allegedly neglecting his duties while on duty during a 911 call that tragically ended in a double murder-suicide. Sgt. Kevin Bollaro of the Franklin Township Police Department has been charged with second-degree official misconduct and tampering with records, as per the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office.
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The incident occurred on August 1, 2025, when a frantic 911 call came in reporting gunshots and screaming from a residence in Franklin Township, New Jersey. Despite being dispatched to the location, prosecutors allege that Sgt. Bollaro deviated from the call and made a personal stop at an ATM, failing to respond to the scene where two individuals had been shot.
The victims were identified as Lauren Semanchik, 33, and Tyler Webb, 29, who were found deceased with gunshot wounds. The shooter was determined to be New Jersey State Police Lieutenant Ricardo Santos, who was in a previous relationship with Semanchik. The tragic event was described as a targeted act that also resulted in Santos taking his own life.
Semanchik, a veterinarian, and Webb, a volunteer firefighter, had recently begun dating before their untimely deaths. The investigation revealed that on the day before the incident, multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots and screaming were made in the vicinity of the crime scene. Bollaro, who was on duty at the time, allegedly failed to respond promptly to the calls.
Instead of rushing to the reported locations, Bollaro was said to have diverted his route to make a personal ATM transaction before finally heading towards the scenes without activating his police vehicle’s emergency lights and sirens. Further investigation showed that Bollaro spent an extended period at a pizzeria instead of thoroughly investigating the calls for help.
Following the incident, Bollaro was placed on administrative leave by the Township of Franklin. His attorney, Charles J. Sciarra, defended his actions, stating that Bollaro’s efforts would not have changed the tragic outcome of the situation. Sciarra asserted that delays in the 911 calls being made and Bollaro’s thorough canvassing of the area would be supported by evidence in court.
Despite the legal proceedings against him, Bollaro remains a veteran of almost 25 years in community service and maintains his innocence in connection to the double murder-suicide. The case is scheduled to appear in court on November 5, where further details are expected to be revealed.
The heartbreaking incident has stirred conversations about the responsibilities of law enforcement officers and the importance of timely and effective responses to emergency calls. The community mourns the loss of Semanchik, Webb, and Santos, while seeking justice for the victims and their families in the aftermath of the tragedy.