New Jersey police chief pleads not guilty to kidnapping, domestic assault and battery in Boston case

Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald on Dec 22, 2025

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BOSTON — A police chief from New Jersey pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and three charges of domestic assault and battery following a September vacation in Boston that allegedly turned violent.

Carmen Veneziano, 47, on Monday entered the pleas at Suffolk Superior Court, where he was released on $25,000 bail and conditions that he follow a no-contact order with the victim and stay out of her hometown. Veneziano was also ordered to wear a GPS monitor.

He is expected back in court again in February but likely won’t be tried until next fall.

During the arraignment, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said Veneziano came to Boston with his then-girlfriend to see a Red Sox game and stay in a hotel overnight.

“The trip went well until it didn’t,” ADA Ian Polumbaum said, describing the incident in court.

After returning to their hotel, the couple got into a dispute, Polumbaum said. Veneziano, a law enforcement officer with 25 years of experience, left the room and returned around 3 a.m., demanding to be let back in.

When hotel security arrived and the victim decided to let Veneziano back inside, the crimes allegedly began.

“He became not just verbally insulting again, but physically abusive, by head butting her, by dragging her by her legs, by holding her down on the bed, preventing her from leaving the room or even leaving the bed,” Polumbaum said, reading from an indictment, “applying what she described as ‘pressure points’ to her body that were painful, and also throwing water on her.”

The victim was eventually able to call the front desk, who called police after hearing the victim say, “you hurt me.” But when officers from Boston Police arrived on the scene, the victim did not disclose that any physical abuse took place.

The couple went their separate ways, Polumbaum said, but they did exchange texts, including a conversation where the victim reached out to Veneziano to confront him about the physical abuse.

“His response was not to directly acknowledge or deny it, but just make some sarcastic comments,” according to Polumbaum.

A few days later, the victim also reached out to the Boston Police to tell them “what actually happened,” the prosecutor said, leading to the investigation, indictment, arrest, and arraignment of the defendant Monday.

Veneziano’s attorney Paolo Corso defended his client’s character, telling the magistrate that the police chief was considered a “pillar in his community.”

“He has members and friends of that community that traveled up from New Jersey today to support him,” Corso said. “They describe him as a role model and a community leader in the town of Totowa.”

Corso objected to the use of a GPS monitor, saying “since this incident, there’s been no further report of any contact of any concerning kind.”

A probation officer present at the hearing admitted it would not be as effective a tool because Veneziano lives out of state.

With the exception of an operating under the influence conviction from earlier this year, Veneziano “does not have a criminal record,” Corso said, adding that his client does not have a history of mental illness, substance or alcohol abuse.

Corso also noted that Veneziano turned himself in and waived extradition after learning of the indictment Friday.

“We’d be very limited in how we were able to respond,” if the defendant violated the condition of his bail, the probation officer said. Still, the magistrate ruled against Corso and ordered Veneziano wear a GPS monitor as a part of bail conditions.

Veneziano “looks forward to addressing these charges here in court,” Corso said.

Those in court who had come to support the defendant declined to comment on case after the arraignment.

In a statement posted on social media, Totowa, New Jersey, Mayor John Coiro said he has suspended Veneziano until the legal process is complete, without pay.

“We will be appointing an Interim Police Chief shortly,” the mayor wrote. “Please know that the Totowa Police Department will continue to operate effectively in providing services to our community.”

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