A veteran member of our local law enforcement community now faces serious criminal charges after allegedly betraying the public trust in one of the most troubling ways imaginable.
Robert Zbikowski, 47, of Hammonton, a sergeant with the Hammonton Police Department, was indicted on April 1, 2026, on multiple charges stemming from the alleged theft of narcotics from the department's evidence room, according to information released Wednesday by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
The charges against Zbikowski include second-degree official misconduct, second-degree pattern of official misconduct, third-degree theft, fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence, and fourth-degree obstruction. Prosecutors allege that he exploited his position as evidence custodian to steal narcotics that had been stored as evidence in criminal cases.
Zbikowski has been suspended from the Hammonton Police Department pending the outcome of the case.
How the Investigation Unfolded
The investigation began in February 2024 when members of the Hammonton Police Department notified the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office that Zbikowski had failed a routine drug screening. What started as a single failed test quickly evolved into a more extensive probe into the integrity of the department's evidence storage.
According to the prosecutor's office, investigators discovered that between October 2023 and his suspension in February 2024, Zbikowski allegedly tampered with numerous bags of suspected narcotics in the evidence room. During a comprehensive audit of the facility, multiple bags of suspected methamphetamine and oxycodone were found to have been tampered with or were missing entirely.
The case was investigated jointly by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Professional Standards and Accountability Unit and the Hammonton Police Department, demonstrating our local department's commitment to holding its own members accountable when wrongdoing is suspected.
What This Means for Our Community
The alleged theft of evidence raises serious questions about the integrity of criminal cases that may have relied on the missing narcotics as evidence. When evidence custodians breach their duty, it can potentially compromise prosecutions and undermine public confidence in our justice system.
Under New Jersey law, second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison. The most serious charges Zbikowski faces—second-degree official misconduct and second-degree pattern of official misconduct—fall into this category, reflecting the gravity with which our state treats corruption by public officials.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Robinson represents the state in the case. As the legal process moves forward, our community will be watching to see how the justice system addresses these troubling allegations against someone who was entrusted with protecting the chain of custody for criminal evidence.
It's important to remember that Zbikowski is presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, the indictment itself represents a significant step in the legal process, indicating that a grand jury found sufficient evidence to move forward with formal charges.
