Report reveals now demoted PSafe officer was suspended in 2025 for neglect of duty

A recent report showed that a Department of Public Safety (PSafe) officer was suspended for ten days without pay after mishandling a trespassing incident. Although the report refers to him as a sergeant, James Bowe has since been demoted to an officer, according to the PSafe directory.

Bowe had responded to a report of a suspicious individual trespassing in a private University living space on Nov. 4. According to PSafe’s crime log, the incident occurred in the Rockefeller College area. Bowe has worked with PSafe since 2019 and was promoted to sergeant in 2022.

The suspension was listed in the New Jersey Attorney General’s office 2025 major discipline report, which includes “terminations, reductions in rank, or suspension of more than five days.” 

The report stated that after the individual was confirmed to be trespassing, Bowe failed to issue a complaint until he was later directed to do so by his supervisor. An internal affairs investigation prior to the report found that Bowe violated two Department of Public Safety rules — neglect of duty and command staff and supervisor duties.

University spokesperson Michael Hotchkiss wrote to The Daily Princetonian that “the University generally does not comment on personnel matters,” and added that “the staff directory is accurate.” He did not provide further comment on the incident.

Bowe did not respond to multiple requests for comment. 

In 2019, the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety launched the Excellence in Policing Initiative as a way to “promote professionalism, accountability, and transparency in law enforcement.” In 2025, 654 law enforcement officers from 169 agencies were suspended, demoted, or fired in for 817 offenses statewide. This marks an increase from 2024 of approximately 100 more officers that faced discipline in New Jersey, and marks the highest annual total since statewide reporting began in 2020.

Including Bowe, PSafe has now reported eleven incidents with a total of six officers involved since the initiative’s inception.

Giselle Moreno is a staff News writer who typically covers Town and University Affairs. She is from Dallas and can be reached at gm2076[at]princeton.edu. 

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.