A New Jersey State Police detective was convicted by a Camden County jury on May 14 of endangering another person during a high-speed pursuit that resulted in the death of a motorcyclist from Queens, New York. The trial lasted about a week and centered on an incident that took place on June 20, 2023, in Springfield Township, Burlington County.
Detective Mark Campagna, age 47 and from Mays Landing, was found guilty of fourth-degree endangering another person before Superior Court Judge Gwendolyn Blue. The jury said Campagna knowingly created a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to Omar Kebbabi, age 24. The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability investigated and prosecuted the case.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Campagna encountered Kebbabi while driving an unmarked State Police vehicle off-duty. He followed Kebbabi for several miles at speeds over 100 miles per hour but did not activate his vehicle’s lights or sirens or notify law enforcement as required by policy. At the intersection of Route 206 and Jacksonville-Jobstown Road shortly before 4:50 p.m., Kebbabi collided with another civilian vehicle making a left turn; both had green lights. Medical aid was provided but Kebbabi died at the scene. The other driver was not seriously injured.
Surveillance videos captured parts of the pursuit, including speed estimates used in the investigation. A municipal police officer’s mobile video recorder documented the final segment after following Campagna out of uncertainty about his identity as law enforcement. Video footage is being released publicly under Attorney General’s Office policies established to ensure transparency in fatal police encounters; representatives for Kebbabi’s family were allowed to review it beforehand.
“There is no evidence showing any lawful objective behind this pursuit. The defendant was not on duty. He never turned on his lights or sirens in an attempt to end the chase and effectuate a traffic stop of the victim,” said Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. “This was a needless and reckless high-speed chase that put not only the victim, but also every other driver on the road, in grave danger. And it ended in tragedy.”
Campagna faces up to eighteen months in state prison and up to $10,000 in fines if sentenced for this fourth-degree offense; he will also lose his police license upon conviction for an indictable offense under state law. Sentencing is scheduled for July 30.
The prosecution team included Deputy Attorneys General Marilyn Muller and Dustin Coolidge from OPIA; Michael Robertson represented Campagna as defense attorney.
The New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin oversees statewide legal standards enforcement—including public safety matters such as this case—across all counties and municipalities according to the official website.
