Prosecutors Say Use Of Deadly Force Was Justified Under State Law & Attorney General Guidelines
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 4:00 P.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
DEPTFORD, NJ.- A Gloucester County grand jury has declined to file criminal charges against a Deptford Township police sergeant following a non-fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred during a foot pursuit on November 28, 2024, concluding that the use of deadly force was legally justified.
According to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, the grand jury reached its determination at the conclusion of deliberations on February 18, 2026, after reviewing extensive evidence related to the actions of Sgt. David Grogan of the Deptford Township Police Department.
The investigation into Sgt. Grogan’s use of deadly force was conducted by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and supervised by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), in accordance with the New Jersey Attorney General’s 2019 Independent Prosecutor Directive governing police-involved use-of-force incidents.
Scope And Oversight Of The Investigation;
Prosecutors stated that the matter was presented to a panel of Gloucester County residents serving as grand jurors in a manner consistent with neutrality and transparency requirements set forth under the Directive. In July 2021, OPIA issued additional Standard Operating Procedures to further ensure objectivity and public confidence in such proceedings.
The evidence presented to the grand jury included witness interviews, body-worn camera footage, 911 audio recordings, physical evidence collected by the Prosecutor’s Office Crime Scene Unit, photographs, and ballistics analysis performed by the New Jersey State Police Firearms Unit. Recorded interviews from involved Deptford Township officers were also reviewed.
After considering testimony and evaluating the totality of the evidence, the grand jury concluded that Sgt. Grogan’s actions met the legal standard for justified use of force. As a result, no criminal charges were issued.
Events Of November 28, 2024;
Investigators determined that the incident originated on November 28, 2024, when Deptford Township police officers responded to a call at the Fairfield Inn regarding occupants who allegedly failed to pay for their room and refused to vacate the premises.
Upon police arrival, officers knocked on the hotel room door in an attempt to make contact. During the encounter, one of the occupants, identified as Jeffrey Jaworski, of Sewell, New Jersey, exited the room by jumping out of a window and fled into a wooded area behind the hotel.
Officers pursued Jaworski on foot. During the chase, Jaworski shouted to officers that he had a gun, investigators said. Sgt. Grogan subsequently discharged his service weapon, striking Jaworski once in the buttocks.
Despite being wounded, Jaworski continued running and entered State Highway 42, where he was ultimately apprehended by responding officers. He was transported to a nearby hospital, treated for his injuries, and released several days later.
Review And Conflict Screening;
Prosecutors confirmed that a formal conflicts check was conducted pursuant to the Attorney General’s Directive, and no actual or potential conflicts of interest were identified among personnel assigned to the investigation.
Before the case was presented to the grand jury, the investigative file was reviewed by members of OPIA’s Fatal Police Encounters Unit to ensure compliance with established legal and procedural standards. Gloucester County First Assistant Prosecutor Dana R. Anton conducted the grand jury presentation itself.
Administrative Review Process;
At the conclusion of police-involved use-of-force investigations, OPIA determines whether any individual should be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for administrative review under the Attorney General’s Internal Affairs Policy and Procedures.
OPIA is responsible for monitoring any resulting internal review to ensure it is completed in a timely manner and that appropriate administrative action is taken based on the findings. Prosecutors did not indicate whether any administrative review remains ongoing in this matter.
Editor’s Note:
Under New Jersey law, a grand jury’s decision not to return criminal charges in a police-involved shooting does not equate to an endorsement of all conduct involved, nor does it preclude separate administrative or civil proceedings. Grand jury proceedings are conducted pursuant to strict Attorney General guidelines designed to ensure independence, transparency, and public accountability in cases involving law enforcement use of force.
Englebrook Independent News remains committed to reporting on law-enforcement-related incidents with accuracy, fairness, and adherence to verified public records.
