Posted on 03/10/2002 4:49:51 AM PST by jordan8
TRENTON - Former Newark Police Chief Joseph Santiago, who admitted to bankruptcy and assault, was confirmed Thursday by the state Senate to head the state police. Santiago, 54, becomes the first Hispanic to head the mostly white agency now under federal supervision after years of practicing racial profiling. For a half-hour, senators debated Santiago's merits with Republicans claiming his personal record made him unfit for public duty. Santiago was approved 22 to 17, with two Republicans joining all Senate Democrats in his favor. Santiago was not present for the debate or vote. "Anybody who votes for this nomination, I think has some explaining to do to the parents of New Jersey," said Sen. Diane Allen, R-Burlington. "I'm not just voting no, I'm voting hell no." Fellow Republican Leonard T. Connors of Burlington called Santiago's nomination insulting. "I consider this nomination an affront to every law enforcement officer in New Jersey and to every man and woman who has ever worn the uniform of the New Jersey State Police," Connors said. Sen. Sharpe James, D-Essex, offered the strongest praise for Santiago. As Newark's mayor, James hired Santiago in 1996. His personal problems ended since he became head of Newark police, while crime went down and police operations became better, James said. "This young man has become a role model," he said. Gov. James E. McGreevey's choice of Santiago caused controversy even before it was formally announced. The most vocal opponents were members of the troopers' union. "We are extremely disappointed that the New Jersey Senate has voted to confirm a man to lead the state police whose personal background is dotted with serious legal and ethical problems," said Ken McClelland, president of the State Troopers Fraternal Association. Santiago failed to pay taxes on an unlicensed security firm in the late 1980s, but paid up in a tax amnesty six years ago. He also lent his name to an unlicensed foundation that raised thousands of dollars from business and community leaders. In 1993, he was found guilty of a disorderly persons offense for striking an off-duty Essex County jail guard who had pushed his fiancee. During his confirmation hearing, Santiago admitted making mistakes, but said his record as the head of Newark's police department spoke for itself. He said he never intended to avoid taxes, but rather didn't realize that the construction company that employed him had not sent him tax forms. Santiago eventually declared bankruptcy. As for the incident with the corrections officer, Santiago said that man was convicted of shoving his fiancee and he himself was fined and performed community service for striking the man. Santiago would replace Carson A. Dunbar, the FBI official hired by former Gov. Christie Whitman. Dunbar was the first black man and the first superintendent to be chosen from outside the state police ranks. Whitman fired the last colonel, Carl Williams, in February 1998, after giving a newspaper interview in which he linked blacks, Hispanics and immigrants to drug trafficking. Two months after Williams was dismissed, Whitman's attorney general admitted troopers unfairly targeted minority drivers for stops and searches. The U.S. Justice Department threatened a civil rights lawsuit, but agreed to a deal where the state allowed federal monitors to supervise court-ordered reforms. Santiago inherits a department whose standing orders and procedures have been rewritten, computer systems overhauled and recruiting and training practices dramatically updated. New Jersey has complied with nearly all of the profiling reforms, but officials have admitted some troopers still persist with practice. Other problems facing the new superintendent include a problematic promotions system.
Thursday, March 7, 2002
A lot of Media steam is being generated by his reputation as a strict disciplinarian,but he has been named to head a police department that is already organized along very strict paramilitary lines.
My guess is his "tour of duty" will be notable for great attention to "spit and polish" appearance on the part of the Troopers, and a lot of CYA " sensitivity " training.
A year or two down the road, the Media will be asking: "Colonel WHO ?"
With skyrocketing property taxes and skyhigh auto insurance premiums me thinks it's time to MOVE before they can do further damage!
Time will tell.
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