There’s a saying in cop circles: “Control the scene, or the scene will control you.” But for Rebecca Sayegh — a nine-year veteran of the Toms River Police Department — the night of April 26 was anything but controlled. According to prosecutors, it was pure chaos.
It was nearly midnight in the sleepy Bayville section of Berkeley Township, New Jersey, when an off-duty Sayegh allegedly turned up at the home of her ex-boyfriend. She wasn’t there to patch things up.
Court documents and police affidavits paint a picture of a violent and personal implosion. Sayegh, 32, is accused of smashing through the front glass door with her police-issued baton — storming into the house where her former partner was present with another woman. What followed, prosecutors say, was a barrage of shouting, shoving, and destruction. She allegedly assaulted both occupants, broke household items, vandalised a car parked in the driveway, and then resisted arrest when officers arrived. As she was being escorted away, she reportedly threatened to burn the house down.
It was the kind of scene you expect from a crime procedural — not from the officer usually first on the scene.
Now, Sayegh is the one facing a first-degree burglary charge, along with assault, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and making terroristic threats. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years behind bars. And the state wants her to stay there until trial.

From Cop to Defendant
On Tuesday, during a virtual hearing, Judge Joseph Grisanti informed Sayegh that prosecutors were seeking to keep her detained without bail. A formal detention hearing is scheduled for Friday.
The decision to re-arrest her didn’t come lightly. Initially, she had been issued a summons and released, as is often protocol for first-time offenders or non-flight risks. But Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer made it clear: this was no routine domestic incident. After reviewing the case, prosecutors deemed the charges too serious to ignore — and Sayegh was hauled back into custody on Monday.
In court, she appeared from the Ocean County Jail, expressionless, as the charges were read aloud.
Her attorney, Terrance Turnbach, maintains that she is cooperating and understands the severity of the case. “She has been a member of the Toms River Police Department and proudly served her community for almost nine years,” he said. “She is taking all the appropriate steps to properly address the matter at hand.”
The Lawsuit in the Background

But this isn’t the first time Sayegh has been in legal conflict — only, until now, she was the plaintiff.
Last year, she filed a lawsuit against the Toms River Police Department, alleging a toxic “Boy’s Club” culture of sexism and retaliation. According to her civil complaint, Sayegh claims she was sexually harassed, overlooked for promotions, and subjected to disciplinary actions for behaviour that male officers routinely got away with.
At the centre of her allegations is retired Captain Shaun O’Keefe, whom Sayegh accuses of persistently pursuing her for a sexual relationship. The most serious allegation: that during a 2022 charity golf event, O’Keefe followed her into the women’s restroom and asked her to perform a sex act — something she says the department failed to investigate adequately.
In its official response, the township denied all claims, dismissing them as “frivolous” and “without legal basis.” And just weeks before Sayegh’s arrest, a judge dismissed the claims against O’Keefe on procedural grounds — not because they were found to be untrue, but because the statute of limitations had lapsed.
One could argue this entire situation — from the alleged misconduct to Friday’s violent breakdown — is a study in how institutions fail both their members and the communities they serve.
A Force in Crisis?
Sayegh’s case comes at a time when law enforcement agencies nationwide are under scrutiny for issues of accountability and internal culture. What happens when an officer under immense pressure doesn’t get help — but instead implodes?
Toms River PD has remained tight-lipped about Sayegh’s current employment status. The department is no stranger to controversy: in recent years, it has faced multiple lawsuits and internal disputes, including accusations of gender bias and retaliatory discipline.
While it’s unclear if Sayegh’s past grievances with the department played any role in the alleged home invasion, the sequence of events seems to suggest a downward spiral — personal, professional, and legal — that culminated in a shattering night in Berkeley Township.
What Happens Next
The outcome of Friday’s detention hearing will determine whether Sayegh remains behind bars or is released ahead of trial. Prosecutors argue she poses a threat to the alleged victims and potentially to herself. Her defence team will likely argue for supervised release or psychiatric evaluation.
In the meantime, a woman who once wore the badge to protect others now finds herself on the other side of the justice system, as a symbol of what can go wrong when unchecked power, personal turmoil, and institutional neglect collide.
Whatever the court decides next, one thing is clear: for Rebecca Sayegh, the thin blue line has become a tightrope — and it’s fraying fast.

South Korean acting President Han Duck-soo. File
| Photo Credit: AP

South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo said on Thursday (May 1, 2025) he was resigning amid reports he will run in next month’s Presidential election.

Mr. Han said in a televised briefing that he had determined he would quit to take “a bigger responsibility” for the country. South Korean media reported Mr. Han will officially launch his Presidential campaign on Friday (May 2).

Mr. Han was appointed Prime Minister, the country’s No. 2 post, by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office, triggering the by-election.

Also Read | South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol removed from office over ill-fated declaration of martial law

Han has been emerging as a potential conservative standard bearer, as the main conservative People Power Party remains in disarray over Yoon’s December 3 imposition of martial law.

Observers say Mr. Han is expected to align with the People Power Party to launch a unified conservative campaign against liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung.

Government workers, green card holders, teachers, and student journalists across the US are asking editors to remove their names from old news stories, fearing backlash from President Donald Trump’s administration for views or identities now considered “politically risky.”
According to Poynter’s Kelly McBride, some government employees and others have asked journalists to remove their names from old news stories. These individuals are concerned that documented evidence of their sexual identity or positions opposing Trump’s policies could make them vulnerable to employment termination.
Kevin Naff, who serves as the editor of the Washington Blade, told the outlet that taking down stories “is not something I’ve ever done before with the exception of foreign sources who are facing life and death situations.”
The Washington Blade has a long history of reporting on governmental discrimination against gay employees. Currently, the publication continues its role in recording instances of intimidation and discrimination. “We’re going backwards,” he stated.
“The fear is really intense. People are scared. They’re scared to lose their pensions and, you know, all of that,” he added.
This wave of anxiety is not limited to career professionals, student journalists, especially those with ties to pro-Palestinian activism, are also asking for their bylines to be removed, fearing legal consequences, deportation, or professional retaliation, the Guardian reported.
The case of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University graduate student currently in ICE detention, has intensified fears. Ozturk had written a pro-Palestinian op-ed in her campus paper and is now fighting deportation despite no official evidence tying her writing to the visa revocation.
Ozturk joins approximately ten other academics and students detained by immigration officials since March 8, when Columbia graduate student and permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil faced arrest and deportation proceedings for participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Editors note particular concern among international student contributors, though requests for content removal due to fear of consequences now extend to American citizens as well.