Garry McCarthy has done a remarkable job as police director in Newark. He has brought modern police management to a force that deperately needed it, and the crime rate — most notably, shootings and murders — has dropped sharply.
But now the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey has crafted a 96-page petition calling for a federal investigation into the department, citing police brutality, false arrests, improper searches, malicious prosecutions, planting of false evidence and other corrupt practices. It itemizes conflicts between officers and superiors, charges and countercharges, harassment and retaliation.
Perhaps this is the most alarming part of the petition: According to ACLU research, in 2008 and 2009, there were 261 internal affairs complaints filed — alleging excessive force, improper arrest and other violations by cops — and only one was upheld.
One out of 261.
That seems to us good reason for the Department of Justice to pay a visit to Newark and take a look. The public has no access to those internal affairs reports, but the Department of Justice does. These are serious charges, and it there is no great cost to checking them out.
The feds have helped New Jersey before. When the State Police were targetting minorities on the highways, the Department of Justice pressured New Jersey into agreeing to federal monitoring, and that led to fundamental changes in the force’s hiring, promotion, procedures, and internal affairs investigation. It worked.
We are not suggesting that for Newark right now. This is only a first step, to test the veracity of the ACLU’s charges. Even McCarthy calls this self-policing statistic “problematic.” He says he has addressed the suspicious batting average by rotating officers on internal affairs panels. The NPD has made it easier for civilians to file complaints — in-person or online. McCarthy says undercover cops have filed civilian complaints, and he has made sure the paperwork didn’t end up in a shredder.
Along with reducing murders and protecting citizens from errantly swung police flashlights, McCarthy’s duties include making Newark’s internal affairs statistics credible so the public has a good idea of what’s happening. He has failed at this task. Even McCarthy concedes the numbers are “confusing.”
McCarthy would prefer the state Attorney General’s Office probe the ACLU charges. But the AG’s office is supposed to be watching the NPD anyway, so a thumbs-up would be seen as a whitewash. Plus, the AG’s office doesn’t have a sparkling reputation for investigating cops: For years, it denied the State Police profiling. Another monkey wrench: Paula Dow, the new AG, is a former Essex County Prosecutor.
The Department of Justice has experience investigating municipal police departments. Our hope is they accept the ACLU’s petition and take a look at Newark.
This blog was created solely for my students to generate intellectual dialogue with their classmates. Reach one and teach one. Peace.
9 comments:
SN3559
"OLD HABITS DIE HARD"
THE CULTURE IN THE POLICE ACADAMY FAILS TO EDUCATE THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ON RESPECTING THE INDIVIDUAL CULTURES AND HOW BEST TO DEAL THE MANY SITUATIONS THAT WILL OCCUR. SENSITIVITY TRAINING IS A MUST TO HELP THE OVERZEALOUS ROOKIES AND SEASONED OFFICERS WITH RICH TOOLS TO HELP THEM EXECUTE A MUCH BETTER JOB RELATION WITH THE PUBLIC. COMMUNITY POLICING IN NEWARK NEEDS AN OVERHAUL FROM THE TOP DOWN.
I agreed with investigation because its time that those who hold all these high position do some work. How does a department who is sworn to uphold the law do just the opposite? I'm sure if it was their life that was being abused, falsely accused, they would want justice. But of course the method being used is “We will cross that bridge when we come to it.” Now that's taking care of business... RSI-3774
if the feds investigation is not going to cost newark any money than i say why not...but with cuts in the city budget and cops being laid off, is it the right time to have federal investigation at newark taxt payers expense?...AS9457
To have crooked cops drive the streets of newark disrespecting the citizens and abuse them is shameful. Especially if they plant evidence and have someone who is totally inoccent and is now doing time because of that officer, It all needs to stop. I am glad the I.A. is here to watch over some police officers because even though they are doing there job. They are doing it in the wrong way.
-EM3583
Its about time that the I.A is taking control in regards of the wrong doing of officers planting false evidence on their victims.
JE#7974
I think I.A. should come to newark to find out what's going on with the complaints against officers. Out of 261 complaints filed 1 was upheld. Its something wrong with that.T.C. 3006
This is a shame I'm sure that when in the police academy people tend to do and tell young police officers to do the right thing. I hope that they will take the initiative to do an investigation on this because no one has the right to be persecuted or harassed for something they did not do.
lc9671
One out of 261. Demotions, promotions, resignations and letters of education are to go out immediately. All the alarms, bells, and whistling must have been deafening.
Not only should internal affairs look at Newark, they should take a look at all city, county, and state authorities.
AR 758197433
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