Protecting the Shield: What you need to know about APP's investigation into police misconduct

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

https://www.app.com/story/news/investigations/watchdog/shield/2018/01/22/protecting-shield-what-you-need-know/1044451001/

New Jersey governments across the state, from the smallest towns to some of the largest cities, have spent at least $42.7 million this decade to cover-up deaths, physical abuses and sexual misconduct at the hands of bad cops.

The abuses have left a staggering toll: at least 19 dead; 131 injured; 7 sexual transgressions, plus dozens of other offenses ranging from false arrest to harassment, the two-year investigation by the Asbury Park Press found. In many cases, local police departments knew about, even tolerated, violent behavior before the cops killed or maimed innocent people, the Press found.

The damage is concealed by government officials who use a veil of secret settlements and nondisclosure agreements to silence victims. Investigations of rogue cops are routinely hidden from the public by police, elected officials and even the courts, the Press found.

This is a multipart investigation series.
I'm appalled but not really surprised.

Solutions proposed in the series:
End secret settlements and ban 'no talk' clauses
Beef up internal affairs oversight
Mandatory random drug testing
Implement a statewide early warning system
Ban problem officers (What? Is that a big Mystery?)

[3Hotdogs]

1. NJ has some real assholes on their forces.

One guy is a mayor's brother. He racked up several excessive force complaints. These continued until a cop cam showed other cops complaining about him.

Then there is the Paterson cop who beat the shit out of a guy in a wheel chair.

Or how 'bout the Jersey City cops who beat the shit out of a guy because they thought he was the guy they were pursuing?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

2. Prosecutors aren't exactly impartial either

This guy gets a program after beating his fiance unconscious because he's a celeb:


Single mom's go to jail for 46 days:



I am glad the things finally reversed and that she didn't lose her job or kids.