Internal Police Squabbles Cost New Jersey Taxpayers $29 Million
TO SEE GRAPHICS:
http://www.thetakeaway.org/story/camden-police-infighting-costs-taxpayers-millions/
Monday, June 23, 2014
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Officer Adam Fulmore, of the Camden County Police
Department, goes on a foot patrol on August 22, 2013 in the Parkside
neighborhood of Camden, New Jersey.
(Andrew Burton/Getty)
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Who's Policing The Police?
The Takeaway looks behind the scenes at local departments across the country, from New Jersey to Ohio.
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When it comes to keeping the peace, who's policing the
police? All this week, we're exploring the state of law enforcement
across the country.
We'll zero in on Seattle and Cleveland in the days ahead, but first we begin in New Jersey. A new investigation by reporter and WNYC contributor Sally Herships has found that department infighting is costing New Jersey taxpayers millions of dollars—about $29 million to be exact.
That's the amount New Jersey residents paid between 2009 and 2012 to foot the bill for legal fees and settlements arising from squabbles and conflicts between officers, departments, and towns.
The root cause of these lawsuits often has to do with the hiring practices of police departments. According to Herships, loyalty within command ranks plays a major role in hiring decisions.
“In New Jersey and a lot of places across the country, police chiefs are appointed by a politician,” Herships explains. “So, if you have a good police chief, you won’t end up with any problems. But if you have someone who is a little bit more slippery, that chief is going to be more inclined to be loyal to the politician that appointed them. And that loyalty is going to trickle right down the force.”
Retired Newark, NJ Police Captain and Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Jon Shane, has witnessed this firsthand.
“You don't see things like an open hiring process,” says Shane, one of the subjects interviewed by Herships. “We don't do that. We just hire from within—we hire our friends, and we hire those that we're comfortable with because we know they'll toe the line.”
This practice has created an environment where officers are frequently loyal to individuals instead of their duty as officers. The results of such practices can be felt on the streets.
“You are told how you are going to do your job,” Shane admits. “You’re told who gets a summons and who doesn’t. [For example] if we have speeding problems on this street but on [the same] street we may have several council members who may be speeding, you’re not going to set up enforcement on this street.”
The administrative squabbles and internal politics can be just as stressful as the work of policing.
“In the hands of an autocratic manager, the rulebook can be oppressive,” says Shane. “And I can use it any way I see fit because there’s a rule for everything. So I just open up the page and find you without your hat, your shoes are unshined, you’re out of uniform in some way, you’re three feet out of your sector, I’ll charge you for it. And so goes the wheel of internal justice in the police department.”
While the results of such behavior are costly to taxpayers, it goes beyond simply paying for departments’ legal fees.
“You can see officers doing everything thing from using excessive force when it’s not required, to stopping people when they shouldn’t be stopped. The stress can lead to alcohol, drugs, and even suicide,” says Herships.
Shane says the quickest solution is to start hiring based on ability rather than loyalty.
Is the force with you? As we discuss the state of policing in America this week, we want to hear from you. How do you rate your local police force? What works, and what doesn't? Share your story in the comments below or give us a call at 1-877-869-8253.
We'll zero in on Seattle and Cleveland in the days ahead, but first we begin in New Jersey. A new investigation by reporter and WNYC contributor Sally Herships has found that department infighting is costing New Jersey taxpayers millions of dollars—about $29 million to be exact.
That's the amount New Jersey residents paid between 2009 and 2012 to foot the bill for legal fees and settlements arising from squabbles and conflicts between officers, departments, and towns.
The root cause of these lawsuits often has to do with the hiring practices of police departments. According to Herships, loyalty within command ranks plays a major role in hiring decisions.
“In New Jersey and a lot of places across the country, police chiefs are appointed by a politician,” Herships explains. “So, if you have a good police chief, you won’t end up with any problems. But if you have someone who is a little bit more slippery, that chief is going to be more inclined to be loyal to the politician that appointed them. And that loyalty is going to trickle right down the force.”
Retired Newark, NJ Police Captain and Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Jon Shane, has witnessed this firsthand.
“You don't see things like an open hiring process,” says Shane, one of the subjects interviewed by Herships. “We don't do that. We just hire from within—we hire our friends, and we hire those that we're comfortable with because we know they'll toe the line.”
This practice has created an environment where officers are frequently loyal to individuals instead of their duty as officers. The results of such practices can be felt on the streets.
“You are told how you are going to do your job,” Shane admits. “You’re told who gets a summons and who doesn’t. [For example] if we have speeding problems on this street but on [the same] street we may have several council members who may be speeding, you’re not going to set up enforcement on this street.”
The administrative squabbles and internal politics can be just as stressful as the work of policing.
“In the hands of an autocratic manager, the rulebook can be oppressive,” says Shane. “And I can use it any way I see fit because there’s a rule for everything. So I just open up the page and find you without your hat, your shoes are unshined, you’re out of uniform in some way, you’re three feet out of your sector, I’ll charge you for it. And so goes the wheel of internal justice in the police department.”
While the results of such behavior are costly to taxpayers, it goes beyond simply paying for departments’ legal fees.
“You can see officers doing everything thing from using excessive force when it’s not required, to stopping people when they shouldn’t be stopped. The stress can lead to alcohol, drugs, and even suicide,” says Herships.
Shane says the quickest solution is to start hiring based on ability rather than loyalty.
Is the force with you? As we discuss the state of policing in America this week, we want to hear from you. How do you rate your local police force? What works, and what doesn't? Share your story in the comments below or give us a call at 1-877-869-8253.
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