How Currupt is the Newark Police Department?

[5Reasons]

Please participate in this important poll. Your opinion matters.

[black4rob2]

I see shadiness by the NPD all the time and half of it doesn't even get reported or goes undetected by the powers that be (maybe they turn the other way).

The only thing is that I can't be 100% sure, because in the movies when you see a bad guy with a cop, they are usually using him for intelligence.

Could that be what is going in this city?? :rolleyes:

[5Reasons]

We need to DRUG TEST all cops and firefighters. It's time to clean up the force, the firefighters and the Newark Housing Authority.

I wonder if Dave Giordano would be able to pass a drug test? :D

[ProSouth]

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1096697459151310.xml

I know both these officers personally. One in my opinion is an o.k. guy the other is an jerk off. Their indictments should in no way lead you to believe that these officers are the only ones who are corrupt nor should it lead you to believe that these are just a few bad apples in a bunch. Corrupt officers know how to manipulate an existing system that tolerates and allows their illegality from the corrupt cop to the judge who sentences the innocent person. Do you think innocent people who are set-up by corrupt cops don't say, yell and scream that they are innocent. The problem is that if you are falsely arrested by a police officer the system believe the cop despite a lack of evidence; despite a cops history of citizen complaints; etc, etc. And lets understand as well that a dirty cop can cause good cops to be unknowing accomplices in corruption by just doing their jobs by executing search warrants, and other police duties. Stealing from drug dealers is just one corrupt act. How about the more acceptible corruption like police officers not paying for parking tickets like everyone else, or police officers strong arming businesses to pay ridiculous rates for off-duty cops working security and if they don't agree with the rate they can't get any other cops to work because they have these un-wriiten "protected" areas; cops pulling over women just to get a phone number instead of for official business; cops eating, drinking, getting free admission, free services, police courtesy, etc. just because they're a cop; and much, much more.

I can give dozens and dozens of examples of police corruption. We as Newarkers tolerate this corruption and don't demand that the police be accountable for their actions. Many of our police officers have nasty, negative attitudes when dealing with the public. I can tell you I have never encountered a disrespectful NYC police officer. They have always been courteous and helpful. Many Newark police act like they would as soon as spit on you than be nice. That leaves a bad impression for the citizen to remember and the citizen is guarded next time.

Do I think they are corrupt......Hell yes...And like I have always said, if a cop sees corruption and do nothing he is just as guilty as the cop who committed the wrong doing.

[ProSouth]

I remember years ago when Santiago started to institute random drug tests to members of the NPD. Many Newark cops lost their jobs because the refused to take the test.

[5Reasons]

South,

I know several officers would quit before submitting to a regular drug test. Now that this curruption is coming out, it may be a good time to start pressing for these neccessary changes. This scandal is going to get a whole lot worse BEFORE it gets any better.

[ProSouth]

A lot of cops are going to be working security at Walmart.

[Miss Tam-Tam]

South,

I know several officers would quit before submitting to a regular drug test. Now that this curruption is coming out, it may be a good time to start pressing for these neccessary changes. This scandal is going to get a whole lot worse BEFORE it gets any better.

So true. So true. One reason is because so-called "clean" cops will look the other way in the face of dirty cops' behavior and keep silent in the name of the brotherhood. But once the dirt starts leaking out it can be like a burst dam because they have so much to lose. They'll sing if it'll save their own skins. I read the Ledger this morning concerning the two cops indicted for shaking down drug dealers. I find it very hard to believe that the cops in question took a little more than $500 in the aggregate from drug dealers and other victims. For just $500 a cop is going to risk a $73,396 to $77,056 salary, a police pension and a criminal rap sheet on top of that? For $500 bucks? Not hardly. In my opinion, these "law officers" pocketed a lot more paper than that in the long term if not some product on the side. It's going to come out in the wash. This entire story stinks 'cause it means that on some level some drug dealers were working for the cops. I know that right now these are just allegations, but smell that smoke because there's a fire at the NPD.

[5Reasons]

1. Our punkish "leaders" have been earily silent on this matter. No one is calling for anything. Then again, when you live in a glass house......

2. NO ONE on the police has said ANYTHING that would be considered BOLD and into getting to the whole truth of this scandal.

In other words, Newarkers, the beat GOES ON. These thug cops have been doing this for quite some time and they've made HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS. And agian, the NPD isn't that large; nearly every person on the force EITHER participated OR KNEW about what was going on.

Does anyone doubt that a signicant part of the Newark drug trade was being done under the watchful eyes of the NPD?

[ProSouth]

That made me laugh as well....$500.00?? But let me tell you that prosecutors either always inflate the amout of il-gooten gain or they under-cut the amount based upon what they are trying to acomplish. From reading between the lines they want other cops to come forward with info.

[Miss Tam-Tam]

South,

I know several officers would quit before submitting to a regular drug test. Now that this curruption is coming out, it may be a good time to start pressing for these neccessary changes. This scandal is going to get a whole lot worse BEFORE it gets any better.

Not meaning to besmirch the memory of a fallen officer, but do any of you remember the Newark Detective John Szereck who was gunned down in the Essex County Courthouse by a drug dealer named "Beauty?" Szereck was preparing to testify against Beauty. A county employee smuggled a gun into the courthouse for this purpose. Long story short: Turns out that Detective Szereck's autopsy toxicology report indicated that the man was a walking drug store -- a serious user of a variety of controlled dangerous substances. The suggestion was that Detective Szereck might have had more than just a passing relationship with Beauty and others of his ilk. I always thought that random piss testing should be mandatory and routine for law enforcement officers -- at least in a perfect world.

[ProSouth]

He was dirty. The cat who shot him told the whole story.

I got one for you. There was a Newark cop named Michael Gugliatti. He beat the hell out of a guy down in the Ironbound while off duty in a road rage incident. When IA wanted to give him a drug test, he refused to take it and got fired. He then had the nerve to sue the city for wrongful termination. Another Ex-Newark cop, Mario Simmons refused a drug test and got booted. I can go on and on.

[myhomenewark]

I want to go hide my head in the sand when I read about the level of on-the-take that goes on in this city. Harry Grant made the perfect metaphor when he gilded the City Hall dome. Whether it's pay-to-play tactics, our city council and its salaries, former police director Celester, Marie Villani back in the day, that Central Ward councilman and his towing scam, former Councilman Grant, Tucker and his shythole Centre, etc., etc., etc.

Everybody is a thug--gangsta. All this crap is about stealing or "legally" taking all that you can and getting away with it. And it is getting more boldfaced and brazen it seems. So what do you say to a citizen, especially young people, who comments "Why vote, nothing ever changes and they're all crooked anyway." Or, "F**k the Police! They just a gang wearing a darker shade of blue." Or, "nigg*s ain't got shyt and they will never have shyt because they including those who like us won't allow you to get it--I'm gonna get it and survive anyway I can even if it means I got to rob and steal." Where is the difference between a street-thug mentality and what seems to past for as leadership and law enforcement in this city?

I'm lucky. I've never had any dealings with the Newark Police Department or any other law enforcement for that matter. I hope I never do. Because it seems any thing goes at any time depending on who is trying to get away with what.

I WILL VOTE BOOKER IF HE RUNS NEXT TIME, MAINLY BECAUSE HE'S AN OUTSIDER FROM WHITELANDIA SEEMINGLY ON A "HELP THE NEGRO" CRUSADE. GIVE ME SOMEONE ON A MISSION--NO MATTER HOW NAIVE OR HOW MANY MISSTEPS--TO COUNTER WHAT THE STATUS QUO ATTRACTS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE SHAKEN UP!

WE NEED YOU. TOO. RON RICE JR.! YOU WRITINGS AND THOUGHTS ARE INSPIRATIONAL; I HOPE THEY'RE GENUINE; I REALLY DO. DON'T GET COMPROMISED, AND, WHEN YOU GET ELECTED, BRING IN THOSE GOOD AND ACCOUNTABLE PEOPLE WHO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE NEED A STRONG STORM FRONT TO PASS THROUGH THIS CITY AND SWEEP OUT ALL THE POLLUTION. WE NEED A CHANGE!!!

[ProSouth]

You hit the nail on the head especially when you equated street corruption to corruption at City Hall.

[5Reasons]

At this point, I too am a leaning Booker voter. I'm also disgusted with the status quo and want to see things shaken up at City Hall. Still, I am suspcious of Booker's motives - and probably always will be. But at this point, I'm ready to go in another direction just because I think this administration has run its course.

Nevertheless, my concern with Cory's reform agenda is that I'm hearing that he may run with upwards to 6 or 7 INCUMBENTS endorsing him. How can you be a true reform candidate when more than half the council, you know, the same people that endorsed James in '02, now endorsing Booker? I realize that you need a few inside players, but it looks like Booker is about to go overboard with this movement. In the end, he'll disappoint his most hardcore supporters that truly want change.

Here's what's also interesting. If Cory does get the backing of more than half the incumbents on the council, it could actually yield something truly bizarre - Sharpe James would then have the opportunity to run AS THE OUTSIDER. Can you believe that? A 20 year incumbent can then reposition himself as trying to stop this Booker MACHINE.

The odds would be against James in that situation, but by no means would Sharpe not have some great cards to play. Since Sharpe is a good at ethnic politics, I think he can reach back into his old bag of tricks for one more run. He just needs the right candidates. In 2006 if Sharpe adds a Haitian a Domincan and either a young Italian or even Jew, he might be able to penetrate and bring out markets that would throw the whole race back up for grabs - especially since James already has his built in markets of unwaivering support from seniors and the South ward.

Nevertheless, if I was advising James I would tell him to raise money and pretend he's going to run and then at the last minute pull out and take his 3 million dollar kitty and enjoy life as the senior statesman of Newark and as a State Senator.

[MrTim1955]

A lot of cops are going to be working security at Walmart.

I shop at Wal-Mart occasionally and would definitely feel less secure with NPD as security guards.