Thread: NEW JERSEY POLICE CHIEF SPEAKS OUT AGAINST TOWN COUNCIL, IS PLACED ON LEAVE

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NEW JERSEY POLICE CHIEF SPEAKS OUT AGAINST TOWN COUNCIL, IS PLACED ON LEAVE

5 hours ago | US | Posted by Joshua CookFebruary 17, 2014



“No one owns the Chief position. It’s not for sale,” said acting Bloomfield Police Chief James Behre. The 27-year New Jersey police veteran was speaking at a Town Council meeting, discussing the political corruption he was urged to take part in. Less than 48 hours later, he received a letter from Township Administrator Ted Ehrenburg, relieving him of his duties.
In his statement to the Council, Behre explained that he had experienced a lot of harassment in his job, causing significant stress. He said, however, that Councilman Carlos Bernard had made repeated offers for the harassment to stop and the position to be made permanent in exchange for favors to Latino policemen. These favors included pushing Latinos forward in line for Seargents’ Exams, promoting Latinos to detective, and even fixing a parking ticket. He also asked Behre’s men to write tickets in his ward.

Bernard would follow his requests by saying “This will solidify your position as Chief, and your problems will go away,” said Behre, who emphasized that these requests interfered – in a political way – with the day-to-day operations of the police force. “I am working in a hostile and harassing work environment, daily…because I’m fighting for the citizens of this township, and I’m fighting for the 144 members of this police department.
Behre also said Bernard would use the word “’we,’ to imply he’s there on behalf of the whole council.” Bernard was not at the Council meeting. In his statement, Behre said that the position of Police Chief belonged to the taxpayers, not to other officials, and that Hispanics are not more important than other minority groups. When Behre was placed on leave, officials – including the Mayor – claimed that it was due to concerns over Behre’s health.
Corruption isn’t a new phenomenon in politics, and it certainly isn’t a new phenomenon in New Jersey politics. It’s relevant to note, though, in large part because of the increasing number of appointed positions in America’s local, state and federal governments. Indeed, UN Agenda 21 specifically advocates the creation of more and more unelected and bureaucratic positions.
People in unelected positions report to other officials – many of whom may have agendas – instead of simply to the people. This creates almost inherently corrupt positions, and Behre’s suspension shows what can happen to a qualified candidate who doesn’t play the game. Behre’s experiences should be at the back of every American’s mind when they see bureaucracies emerging.

*Not all law enforcement is appointed or hired; Sheriff is an elected position.

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Corruption Accusation Costs Police Veteran

February 20, 2014 by Sam Rolley

James Behre, the acting chief of police in Bloomfield, N.J., stood before his township council members and lambasted the elected officials for asking to trade favors in return for his job security and otherwise meddling in department affairs. With no hint of irony, the council suspended the chief less than 48 hours later, pending a “fitness of duty” evaluation scheduled next month.



The 27-year veteran of the Bloomfield Police Department said that a councilman encouraged him to favor Hispanic officers for promotions and to fix a parking ticket in order to “solidify” Behre’s position as acting police chief.
Addressing the council, Behre recalled that Councilman Carlos Bernard asked the chief to promote a Hispanic officer to detective, telling him, “This will solidify your position as chief and your problems will go away.”
Bernard is Hispanic.
“Who is Carlos Bernard to tell me that Hispanics are more important than blacks, Asians, female officers, Caucasian officers?” Behre said at one point. “It’s all about fairness and transparency.”
On a separate occasion, Bernard asked the chief to forgive a parking ticket.
“We appreciate the job you’re doing, chief. We’re leaning towards making a police director but now we’re leaning towards making you chief,” Behre recalled the councilman saying during the visit.
“He’s come into my office and used the word ‘we’ to imply that he’s there on behalf of the whole council,” Behre said.
The police chief said that other members of the council also routinely flood his office with calls to request favors and have even gone so far as to hinder Internal Affairs investigations.
“These are all examples of political interference in the day-to-day operations of the police department,” Behre said.
The chief added that the political interference was causing other veteran officers to leave the department and creating a hostile work environment for him. Even so, Behre vowed to fight the council if the corruption continues.
“No one owns the chief’s position. It’s not for sale,” Behre concluded to applause from residents in attendance.
Two days later, Bloomfield’s township administrator placed Behre on leave, citing concerns from the mayor and other township officials over the chief’s health. Before he is allowed to return to duty, Behre will have to take a “fitness of duty” evaluation on March 3.
Paul Cell, president of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, said that the town’s actions against Behre are “absolutely disgusting.”
“We are asking this town council to take action… we want the chief to be put back,” he told the town council.

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First Amendment to the United States Constitution

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that comprise the Bill of Rights.