The U.S. Attorney’s Office has requested a copy of Hoboken SWAT Investigation report. Attorney Christopher Christie’s office will find excerpts such as

“He notices that the girls were in handcuffs. He did not take steps to stop it because he does not see anything inappropriate with it.”

During two trips to Mardi Gras in Louisiana in 2005 and 2006, Hooters waitresses in photos with Hoboken Police are seen posing with guns belonging to members of the SWAT team, a clear violation of police rules.

Want to read your very own copy of the leaked Hoboken Police misconduct report?

This website was established to review and discuss the process and investigation of citizen complaints against police officers. For far too long the “internal affairs” function within many police agencies has been a closed one. The function is one of paramount accountability and integrity. Through various studies and interviews I have found that this system does not reach its optimal goals regarding thoroughness, fairness and timeliness. Additionally, impartiality is blurred and police officers are unfairly targeted by police executives in numerous instances and citizen complaints are either ignored entirely or receive little attention. This conclusion is rooted in the official police data that every municipal police agency in New Jersey is mandated to file and make public but fails to do so.

Since 1991 local, county and state law enforcement official have not diligently maintained, reviewed or communicated with each other when it comes to tracking and preventing deviant behavior by police officers. The lack of diligence contributes a weakened public trust and increased police cynicism where honest, hard working police officers are demoralized as they watch some rouge colleagues escape accountability and rise through the ranks of the police department.

Studies, reviews and recommendations with be updated periodically on this website so please return frequently. In July, a 7 year countywide audit will be posted here. If you are a citizen needing information of how to file a complaint against a police officer, please send an e-mail to the address below. If you are a police officer who wishes to report wrongdoing within your agency, feel free to use the same e-mail address. All submissions will be handled with strict confidentiality.

We encourage citizen participation in the internal affairs process and perhaps after reading the Hoboken report below you will see the need for external review and auditing of the police function within our society.

Below is an internal affairs investigation of the Hoboken Police Department that speaks volumes about the internal politics of a mid-sized urban police department. The themes and nuances are repeated statewide by police officers I have interviewed or who provided anonymous information. Evidence of the frequency of similar events and circumstances can be found throughout the courts and administrative systems in New Jersey where citizens and police alike file their grievances and appeals for justice relating to official [mis]conduct. This site will shed some much needed light on this topic with the goal of improving current conditions for citizens and police officers in mind.

Richard Rivera
info@wnypd.com

In the Matter of an Investigation of the Hoboken Police Department

Prepared By: David F. Corrigan, Esq., March 25, 2008

INTRODUCTION

On October 24, 2007, Sergeant Edwin Pantoja (”Pantoja”), Detective Mario Novo (”Novo”), Detective George Fonseca (”Fonseca”), Detective James Perez (”Perez”) and Detective Cesar Olavarria (”Olavarria”) filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey against the City of Hoboken (”City”) and Lieutenant Angelo Andriani (”Andriani”) Case No. 2:07-cv-05113-SRC. The complaint alleges that the Plaintiffs were subject to discrimination and harassment because of their race and national origin in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Among other things, Plaintiffs allege that:

On November 2, 2007, City of Hoboken Corporation Counsel Steven Kleinman assigned me to investigate the allegations contained in the Complaint. In pertinent part, Mr. Kleinman said:

You are directed to immediately commence a full internal investigation of each of the numerous allegations contained in the lawsuit, except for the allegation that Lt. Andriani made the officers do personal work for him. That matter remains under active criminal investigation by the Hudson county Prosecutor’s Office and they have requested we avoid that particular topic.

Thereafter, however, on November 16, 2007, the Hudson County Prosecutor requested that I not interview either the Plaintiffs or Lieutenant Andriani regarding any matters until they completed their investigation.

Thereafter, however, on November 16, 2007, the Hudson County Prosecutor requested that I not interview either the Plaintiffs or Lieutenant Andriani regarding any matters until they completed their investigation.

On January 14,2008, Peter H. Stoma, Assistant Prosecutor, (Internal Affairs) of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office advised me that the Prosecutor’s investigation was complete. He advised that criminal charges would not be brought against Lt. Andriani or any of the Hoboken Police Officers involved in the inquiry. He further advised that Hoboken could proceed with their internal investigation and requested that the Prosecutor be advised of the results.

On February 1, 2008, I moved for access to Grand Jury testimony to assist me in my investigation. This application was opposed by the Plaintiff. The Hon. Peter Vasquez, J.S.C., denied this application. On the same day, Plaintiffs moved to enjoin me from continuing my investigation. This application was also denied.

I continued to interview witnesses and review documents and now submit this report.

To view the complete Investigation of the Hoboken Police Department please visit:

http://www.internalaffairsnj.com/doc/InvestigationHobokenPoliceDept.pdf

http://www.lpcnj.org/OGTF/BergenReports.pdf