Rabner punts on trooper union president's actions
Attorney General Stuart Rabner today released the results of his investigation into the actions at a press conference of David Jones, president of the state troopers union. His conclusion: "Jones behaved in a manner that brought discredit to himself and the Division of State Police, contrary to New Jersey State Police Rules and Regulations."
What did Rabner suggest be done about it? Nothing. He handed it off to State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes, suggesting Fuentes "evaluate proper disciplinary action." He gave no hint of what that action should be.
Jones had held a press conference lambasting 101.5 radio talk show host Craig Carton for publicizing troopers' Web site comments calling for a ticket-writing blitz in response to the negative reaction State Police received following Gov. Corzine's auto accident. Among other things, Jones held up a paper with Carton's home address and license plate number on it. He also sought to intimidate the radio station's executives and sponsors, and threatened the individuals who tipped off the radio station about the messages on the police Web site.
Rabner said there was no evidence that Jones accessed federal or state law enforcement databases to gather the personal information about Carton. But he said Jones' actions "created an inappropriate perception that law enforcement would harass a citizen whom they have a grievance about." That deserves harsh punishment. Rabner chose not to mete it out. Will Fuentes? I doubt it.
What did Rabner suggest be done about it? Nothing. He handed it off to State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes, suggesting Fuentes "evaluate proper disciplinary action." He gave no hint of what that action should be.
Jones had held a press conference lambasting 101.5 radio talk show host Craig Carton for publicizing troopers' Web site comments calling for a ticket-writing blitz in response to the negative reaction State Police received following Gov. Corzine's auto accident. Among other things, Jones held up a paper with Carton's home address and license plate number on it. He also sought to intimidate the radio station's executives and sponsors, and threatened the individuals who tipped off the radio station about the messages on the police Web site.
Rabner said there was no evidence that Jones accessed federal or state law enforcement databases to gather the personal information about Carton. But he said Jones' actions "created an inappropriate perception that law enforcement would harass a citizen whom they have a grievance about." That deserves harsh punishment. Rabner chose not to mete it out. Will Fuentes? I doubt it.
posted by Randy Bergmann at 2:20 PM
8 Comments:
He did not break the law and was exercising his right to free speech. The guy may be a jerk, but that does not mean he needs to be fired. I guess the only response the asbury park press wanted was him to be fired whether or not that was the right call.
What I'd like to know is whether the state trooper that was driving will get a citation. Any one of us would! Fuentes's job one is to keep the Governor safe. His crack security team let him down. What's he going to do? What has the investigation learned? Is a report of the investigation going to be made public?
There's more to this than whether or not Jones broke the law. There's also a code of conduct and ethics to be considered. Making it look like it's merely a legal issue is missing the point. Why bother with an oath of office if the only standard is the law?
Ray is right. Ethics should be paramount for anyone who is part of law enforcement, one would think. He did get a punishment...I'm wondering if this had never hit the airwaves,paper, or tube, if he would have gotten the punishment he did receive. I'm wondering if it would have been swept under the proverbial carpet.
Margaret
We've got to stop agreeing like this. We're probably creating some sort of imbalance in the universe that will cause it to explode in a fiery ending worthy of a Steven Spielberg movie.
Five days of pay lost is a pretty severe punishment. This also most likely prevented him from ever earning another promotion. I think that is a pretty severe punishment. Hopefully people move on from this.
David Jones did us a service by uncovering a fraud.
Craig Carton is a sissy, and certainly no "Jersey Guy."
Read more about it here:
http://tinyurl.com/3cftfz
Ray, an imbalance of the Universe has nothing to do with us agreeing, though it makes me giggle to think of it. Steven Spielberg movie...good stuff :)
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