As reported by nj.com, New Jersey’s standards for eyewitness testimony in the courtroom is unreliable and can encourage police misconduct, the New Jersey Supreme Court said in ordering a revision of investigative and court practices. The unanimous ruling follows a recent report recommending tighter restrictions on eyewitness testimony and is likely to have far-reaching
Donald C. Barbati
Christie Wants to Eliminate Division of Fire Safety
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, a Democratic state senator said that Governor Chris Christie is looking into eliminating the Division of Fire Safety, which is responsible for enforcing the state fire code, education programs, and firefighter training. In a news release criticizing the plan, Senator Jim Whelan said the administration wants to divide the …
NJ Union Leader Elected National VP of Fraternal Order of Police
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Ed Brannigan, the leader of the state’s second-largest police union, was elected national vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police last Thursday. Brannigan knocked out the incumbent, David Hiller, of Michigan, by a vote of 1,577 to 1,365 at the union’s national conference in Salt Lake City. He will remain …
Camden Moves Closer To Forming Countywide Police Force
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Camden officials are now working on plans to have the Camden County government take over the city’s police force. Camden County’s Board of Freeholders approved the concept last week. City officials had already signed on.
The parties have until September 30 to submit a detailed plan for review by the state’s …
NJ State PBA Agrees to Return Group’s Events to AC Following Re-Hiring Of Cops
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, one of New Jersey’s largest police unions is returning to Atlantic City after nearly a year of protest. The New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association pulled events in January after the city laid off 60 police officers.
The New Jersey State PBA moved its main convention last March to the …
Credit Rating Agency Fitch Downgrades NJ, Citing Unfunded Pension, Benefit Liabilities
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the credit rating agency Fitch has lowered New Jersey’s general bonds, citing unfunded pension and employee benefit liabilities. The agency wrote that making an increased pension payment, which Governor Chris Christie has said he will do, will “conflict with other long term challenges, such as property tax relief, school funding, …
Cash Strapped NJ Police Departments To Receive $6M In Federal Aid
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, strapped by recession and plagued by rising violence, some New Jersey police departments are about to get a little help from Washington. The U.S. Department of Justice announced state municipalities will receive $6 million in federal grant money to bolster departments thinned by deep cuts to city budgets.
“This funding …
NJ Supreme Court Won’t Rush To Hear Judge’s Challenge of Pension Overhaul
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, a Superior Court judge challenging the increased payments judges must make under newly-enacted changes to public worker health and pension benefit plans will not be allowed to have his case directly sent to the New Jersey Supreme Court. In a two-paragraph order issued yesterday, Supreme Court Justice Virginia …
NAACP Vows To Challenge NJSP Over Low Black Representation In Recruit Class
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, when the New Jersey State Police’s first class of recruits in two years reports for training today, only five of 123 will be black, a striking failure in the division’s decade long effort to achieve greater diversity. Now, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (“NAACP”), which …
Court Upholds Official Misconduct Indictment Against North Brunswick Police Officer
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, an appeals court ruled an indictment against a North Brunswick police officer charged with official misconduct in an accident that killed a fellow officer is legal and should stand. It was the second decision by the appellate judges that the indictment charging Lieutenant Keith Buckley with two counts of official …