By CHRISTIAN MANAHAN
Staff Writer

LINWOOD – Hamilton Township police officer Ronald A. Gorneau pleaded guilty Thursday, Jan. 17 to a charge stemming from the high-speed accident that killed the father of one of his superiors.

At a hearing held in municipal court in Linwood, Gorneau, 25, pleaded guilty to operating a motor vehicle in an unsafe manner March 10 when his police cruiser broadsided a vehicle driven by Harry R. Jackson, 81, of Laureldale, who was killed.
Jackson is the father of Hamilton Township Police Capt. Judith Dunleavy.

Presiding Judge Lewis Balasko ordered Gorneau to pay the maximum fine of $789, which includes court fees.
“This is a truly tragic situation for the family,” Balasko said.

Gorneau, wearing a grey suit and tie that seemed to match the somber mood of the courtroom, uttered only a few “Yes, sirs” to questions from the judge and his attorney, D. William Subin.
“We are truly sympathetic to the family and the victim,” Subin said.

Attorney Lewis April, representing the Jackson family, said there are intentions of taking Gorneau to a civil court.
Dunleavy, of Egg Harbor Township, was in the courtroom but was unavailable for comment.

But her husband, Tom Dunleavy, said, “The ultimate goal is to see [Gorneau] removed from this job.”

Gorneau was en route to a motor vehicle stop when his marked 2006 Chevrolet Impala collided with Jackson’s 1996 Lincoln Town Car just before noon on Route 50 in the Laureldale section of the township.

Gorneau was responding to a call for assistance from Egg Harbor City, according to a press release issued by former Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey S. Blitz. Reports indicate the cruiser was traveling with the emergency lights and siren off.
The press release said that it was unknown how fast Gorneau’s vehicle was traveling, but April said his speed may have exceeded 90 miles per hour. The speed limit on the road is 50.

Gorneau said in court that he does not recall the rate of speed at which he was traveling because he has amnesia from head injuries suffered in the collision.

According to the Hamilton Township Police Department’s Police Vehicle Response Policy, a Code 2 response requires the use of emergency lights, sirens and headlights.

Subin said that the response was downgraded to a Code 1 by the supervisor on duty at the time.
Special Prosecutor David Spitalnick represented Hamilton Township in court.

Gorneau is still working as a patrolman for the police force.

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