Sergeant Yolanda Holmes
Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and City of Orange Township Police Director Todd Warren announced on Friday October 3, 2025 that an Essex County Grand Jury has indicted an Orange police sergeant on multiple counts of official misconduct and falsifying public records.
Sergeant Yolanda Holmes, 44, of Somerset, is charged with forging the signatures of an officer and a sergeant on two Request to Dismiss or Void Complaint forms on March 24, 2023. These forms were then allegedly used to dismiss two motor vehicle tickets that were issued to a friend of Sergeant Holmes.
The fraudulent forms were submitted to the City of Orange Township Municipal Court, which processed one ticket and dismissed the other ticket. The second ticket, however, had already been paid and could not be dismissed.
The scheme was uncovered when the municipal court returned one of the forms, prompting the officer to realize that he had not attempted to void that ticket. Both the officer and the sergeant, whose names appeared on the ticket, confirmed they had not signed the document. The officer also stated that he did not authorize anyone to dismiss the tickets on his behalf.
Sergeant Holmes is charged with six counts of fourth degree forgery, two counts of fourth degree falsifying or tampering with records, two counts of third degree tampering with public records, and two counts of second-degree official misconduct.
These charges are merely accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The public is encouraged to report any information related to criminal activity by contacting the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. All calls will remain confidential.
