Former Glo. Twp. Cop Sentenced to Year on Probation

A former Gloucester Township police officer accused last April of illegally buying prescription drugs while on duty was sentenced on Thursday to one year on probation and forfeiture of his ability to hold public office in New Jersey.

Thomas E. Eden Jr., 31, must also complete drug counseling as part of the sentence, according to Camden County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Jason Laughlin.

Eden immediately lost his job on the township police force when he entered a guilty plea to a single count of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance last month.

Eden was arrested the afternoon of April 3 at the Howard Johnson Express Inn at 832 N. Black Horse Pike, in the township's Blenheim section, after he allegedly purchased seven prescription pills (oxycodone and Percocet) from a police informant. He was driving a township police cruiser at the time of his arrest.

Eden was charged with third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), third-degree possession with intent to distribute CDS, third-degree possession of imitation CDS and second-degree possession of a firearm while committing a drug offense.

Eden was a seven-year veteran of the police force.