New Jersey State Police

New Jersey State Police
New Jersey State Police
Abbreviation NJSP
NJ - State Police.png
New Jersey State Police patch
New Jersey State Police.svg
Logo of the New Jersey State Police
New Jersey State Police Seal.svg
Seal of the New Jersey State Police
Motto Honor, Duty, Fidelity
Agency overview
Formed 1921
Employees 4,339 (as of 2004) [1]
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction* State of New Jersey, USA
NJ - State Police Troops.png
NJSP Troops
Size 8,729 square miles (22,610 km2)
Population >9,000 (2007 est.)[2]
Legal jurisdiction New Jersey
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters West Trenton, New Jersey
Troopers approx 3,000 [1]
Non Sworn Employees 1,571 (as of 2004) [1]
Superintendent responsible Colonel Rick Fuentes
Agency executive vacant
Facilities
Troops
Website
Official Site
Footnotes
* Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction.

The New Jersey State Police (NJSP) is the state police force for the state of New Jersey. It is a general-powers police agency with state wide jurisdiction when requested by the Governor, designated by Troop Sectors.[3]

Contents

History

As with other state police organizations, the primary reason for the creation of the New Jersey State Police was for the protection of rural areas that had never had law enforcement, beyond a local sheriff, who was often not able to provide suitable police services. Legislation for its creation was first introduced in 1914, but it would not be until March 29, 1921, with the passing of the State Police Bill, that a statewide police force was created. Senator Clarence I. Case was the driving force behind the 1921 legislation, however, the person with the most impact on the organization was its first Superintendent Norman Schwarzkopf, Sr. Schwarzkopf was a graduate of West Point and this training and his time in the military heavily influenced how he organized and trained his first group of troopers.[4] The first State Police class reported for training on September 1, 1921 and consisted of 116 men out of an applicant group of 600. Training took place in Sea Girt, New Jersey on the same grounds as the current State Police Academy.[5] Out of the 116 men who started training only 81 officers and troopers completed the three-month training program. According to the New Jersey State Police Website, "On December 1, 1921, the new troopers were administered the oath of office and on December 5, 1921, in a blinding snowstorm, started out on horseback and motorcycle to their posts throughout the state."

Core Functions

The New Jersey State Police is responsible for general police services, general highway and traffic enforcement, statewide investigation and intelligence services, emergency management, support for state and local law enforcement efforts, maintenance of criminal records and identification systems and regulation of certain commerce such as firearms ownership.[3]

Many municipalities in southern and north-western New Jersey lack local police departments, therefore the state police have the primary responsibility for providing police services to these towns for a yearly assessed nominal fee paid to the state government.[3]

The State Police are also charged with the responsibility of protecting the Governor of New Jersey and Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey.[3]

Motto and General Orders

Motto and Badge

"Honor, Duty, Fidelity", the motto of the New Jersey State Police was adapted from the West Point motto "Duty, Honor, Country". The triangular State Police logo and hat badge represents this motto. The badge has stars in each of its three corners and was created by New York jeweler Julius George Schwarzkopf, the father of founder Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf. The NJSP logo includes the year 1921, date of founding, in place of a badge number.[6]

General Order #1

The General Orders are the guiding principles of the State Police and provide historical bases for its rules and regulations. A full list of the orders can be found here General Order #1.

Academy

Training for recruits takes place at the State Police Academy located in Sea Girt, New Jersey. The academy is both physically and mentally demanding on the recruit. The recruits live at the academy during the week and are responsible for the upkeep of the barracks and academy grounds, as well as their equipment and uniforms. The curriculum consists of ten units of study that increase in difficulty and complexity over the 25 weeks of training.[7] Drop out rate for new recruits in the Academy is above or close to 30% per class. Some areas of study include:

  • Curriculum: The New Jersey State Police Academy utilizes an Adult Based Learning methodology where the recruits are expected to be active participants in the learning process. Each recruit is provided a laptop computer with wireless Internet access which is used for researching the numerous assignments and topics covered in the curriculum. The Academy has a full-time librarian on staff to assist recruits with research. The curriculum consists of ten units of instruction. Each unit focuses on a comprehensive aspect of law enforcement work that builds upon one another, beginning with simple tasks and culminating with complex issues. Each recruit is required to pass both a written and practical examination at the end of each unit. The written examinations require a minimum passing score of 70%. The practical examinations are hands-on scenarios that require recruits to demonstrate proficiency in the subject matter and skills covered in the unit. The curriculum relies heavily on scenario based training and research assignments. Recruits are provided with approximately a two hour study hall period every evening that is used to prepare for class, complete assignments, and study for examinations.[7]
  • Physical Training: Three two-hour sessions per week. Running is a large component of the physical conditioning and reaches a maximum of five miles (8 km) at an 8-minute pace. Muscular conditioning is also stressed and recruits must pass all physical tests.[7]
  • Self-Defense: Consists of approximately 20 hours of active counter measures, 28 hours of defensive tactics, and 18 hours of expandable straight baton instruction.[7]
  • Firearms: Recruits must show proper usage and care of all firearms issued by the state police, including the SIG P228 handgun and Benelli M1 shotgun. Recruits go through 60 hours of firearms training.[7]
  • Water Safety: Consists of 40 hours of water safety and life saving instruction.
  • Driving: Driving consists of approximately 21 hours of instruction and each recruit is required to show proficiency in the operation of marked troop transportation.[7]

Rank structure

Title Insignia
Colonel / Superintendent
Colonel Gold.png
Lieutenant Colonel
US-O5 insignia.svg
Major
US-O4 insignia.svg
Captain
Captain insignia gold.svg
Lieutenant
US-OF1B.svg
Sergeant First Class / Det. SFC
NJSP Sergeant First Class Stripes.png
Staff Sergeant
NJSP Staff Sergeant Stripes.png
Sergeant / Det. Sgt.
NJSP Sergeant Stripes.png
Trooper I / Detective I
NJSP Corporal Stripes.png
Trooper II / Detective II
Blank - Spacer.png
Trooper / Detective
Blank - Spacer.png

Uniform

New Jersey State Trooper Badge - #1921 was never issued as it is the year the NJSP was founded

In addition to its distinctive triangular badge, Troopers wear a distinctive uniform for regular patrol duties, which is normally reserved for "Class A" functions in nearby state police forces (Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania). Its origins, according to common NJ folklore and Col. Schwarzkopf's diaries, are in German uniforms of the inter-war period which were found to be sufficiently smart and imposing, while practical. The winter uniform consists of a light blue Army-style coat, known as a blouse, with brass buttons, and gold triangular patches, with "N.J." on the right lapel and "S.P." on the left. The blouse is worn over a dress shirt, light blue for sergeants and below, white for lieutenants and above, and a navy blue necktie. Navy blue trousers or riding breeches bearing a gold stripe on each side completes the uniform. During the summer, the blouse is replaced with a long-sleeve blue shirt (NJ State Troopers have not worn short-sleeved shirts since Wednesday, November 1, 2000), while a necktie is still worn. A saucer-shaped hat (as opposed to a Stetson hat in New York and Maryland or the Campaign hat in Delaware and Pennsylvania.) is worn, with two straps—one going over the crown, giving the uniform a distinctive, almost German Army-like appearance, appropriate to the uniform's origin. Unlike most other police agencies, the Troopers' badge is only worn on the hat. For this reason, it is extremely unusual to ever see a Trooper without his cover on. Enlisted troopers wear their applicable rank on the sleeves while officers wear their rank on shoulder epaulets. Both winter and summer uniforms are worn with the full Sam Browne Belt, if a weapon is worn, which was adopted by Col. Schwarzkopf, as the belt gave the wearer a proper "brace" (known by General of the Armies John Pershing as the "West Point Brace;" appropriate at the time since both Pershing and Schwarzkopf were both graduates).[8]

Current organization

Numerous State Police cars parked on the side of the New Jersey Turnpike.

The current organization of the New Jersey State Police is[9]:

  • Office of the Superintendent, which is currently held by Col. Rick Fuentes.
  • Administration Branch, which consists of the Administration Section, Information Technology Section, and the Division Human Resources Section
  • Homeland Security Branch, which consists of the Emergency Management Section and the Special Operations Section.
  • The Investigations Branch which consists of the Intelligence Section and the Special Investigations Section
  • The Field Operations Branch, which consists of Field Operations Sections which are further divided into the following five troops:[10]

Demographics

As of 2007, the demographics of the New Jersey State Police was as follows:[11]

  • Male: 97%
  • Female: 3%
  • White: 85%
  • African-American/Black: 8%
  • Hispanic: 5%
  • Asian: 1%
  • Native American: 1%

Law Enforcement Accreditation

The New Jersey State Police, as of July 2007, received a coveted law enforcement accreditation after more than a year of intense reviews and grading. The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) bestowed the honor at a meeting of their commissioners in Montreal, Quebec.[12]

The award is the culmination of a two-year process that included on-site inspections from a national team representing the commission. Assessors examined files, conducted panel interviews of staff members, inspected facilities, and performed ride-a-longs with troopers.

Accreditation brings several significant benefits. Primarily, it improves public safety services by comparing the New Jersey State Police to the best procedures currently used by law enforcement and raising any non-compliant areas up to those standards. Additionally, it creates accountability to a respected benchmarking group that knows the work of modern policing. Public trust is bolstered by way of the transparency involved in the whole CALEA accreditation process.

In popular culture

Bruce Springsteen's album Nebraska (1982) contains the dark song "State Trooper", in which a traveller on the New Jersey Turnpike, a desperate man who has committed unknown crimes, hopes that he won't be pulled over by a State Trooper. This song was used in The Sopranos.

New Jersey Turnpike ridin' on a wet night 'neath the refinery's glow, out where the great black rivers flow
License, registration, I ain't got none but I got a clear conscience 'Bout the things I done
Mister state trooper, please don't stop me
Please don't stop me, please don't stop me!

In the 2009 movie Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Kevin James plays a mall Security Guard who dreams to become a New Jersey State Trooper. In the beginning of the film, he is taking the entry course in the Police Academy and several training instructors are seen as well as some officers in dress uniforms in the background.

Controversy

Racial Profiling

In the late 1990s, both the Maryland and New Jersey State Police agencies were subject to allegations of racial profiling which claimed that black motorists were being pulled over disproportionately on the New Jersey Turnpike and on Interstate 95, this was due to findings that a high percentage of drug traffickers were young black males. In New Jersey many rank-and-file state troopers testified that their supervisors had ordered them to engage in this practice. A nationwide scandal erupted, which ultimately resulted in a federal monitor watching over the New Jersey State Police. In a consent decree, the New Jersey State Police agreed to adopt a new policy that no individual may be detained based on race, unless said individual matches the description of a specific suspect.[13][14] The consent decree was dissolved on September 21, 2009.[15]

New Jersey Turnpike Shooting

On April 23, 1998, Troopers James Kenna and John Hogan opened fire on a van they stopped for speeding on the New Jersey Turnpike. The four passengers in the van were unarmed. The troopers said they fired, wounding three of the four minority men inside, when the van lurched back toward them. This also started the investigation of possible racial profiling within law enforcement in New Jersey.

Lords of Discipline

On December 1, 2003, Trooper Justin Hopson filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Camden. Hopson alleged in his complaint that he was hazed and harassed by a group of fellow state troopers known as the "Lords of Discipline." The hazing occurred when Hopson with only eleven days on the force at the time, refused to falsify the facts underlying an illegal arrest of a citizen. The complaint alleges that after Hopson refused to support the arrest, he was physically assaulted, received threatening notes, and his car was vandalized while on duty. Over the years, several troopers have come forward about the Lords of Discipline. The secret group allegedly drove nails into colleagues' tires, damaged lockers, and wore Lords of Discipline incribed T-shirts. The NJ Attorney Generals Office conducted a two-year investigation into the group where seven troopers were suspended or reprimanded but the probe found "no organized group of troopers known as the Lords of Discipline." On October 1, 2007, the State of New Jersey agreed to a $400,000 settlement with Justin Hopson. A spokesman for the attorney general called the Hopson settlement "fair and reasonable."

Arrest of Officer Gary S. Wade

On August 17, 2004 New Jersey State Police troopers Michael Colaner and David Ryan pulled over detective Gary S. Wade of the Tinton Falls Police Department for allegedly speeding.

The detective, Gary S. Wade, who worked for the Police Department in Tinton Falls for eight years, was supposedly on his way to work and driving with his seatbelt on in an unmarked police car with a spotlight on the driver’s side, wearing a shirt with an embroidered badge on it and also wearing a badge on his belt. After being pulled over Wade called his supervisor according to his department’s protocol and asked the State Troopers to wait until his supervisor arrived.[16]

However, the dash camera from trooper Colaner’s patrol vehicle indicated that within 30 seconds Colaner had pulled a gun on Wade who was still in his car. According to a transcript of the video Wade had asked twice why he was being pulled over and received no answer from the Troopers. Colaner then informed Wade that he was placing Wade under arrest for disorderly conduct and after a 90 second exchange the troopers pulled Wade out of his car. The video then shows Colaner hitting Wade in the back of the head with a fist wrapped around a can of pepper spray just before Wade was forced to the ground. Wade was then doused with pepper spray and handcuffed. [17][18]

Eventually Wade was charged and convicted of disorderly persons offenses, obstruction of administration of law and careless driving. He was then terminated from the Borough of Tinton Falls Police Department.[19] However, in a later case the courts found that Trooper Colaner used excessive force in the handling of Wade and Wade was awarded $5,000,000.00 in punitive damages.[20]

Trooper Robert Higbee

On September 27, 2006, Trooper Robert Higbee was attempting to stop a speeding car, driven by Joshua Wigglesworth, when he ran a stop sign at the intersection of Stagecoach and Tuckahoe Roads in Marmora, an unincorporated part of Upper Township, Cape May County. He then collided with a minivan occupied by sisters 17-year-old Jacqueline and 19-year-old Christina Becker, which then collided with another vehicle occupied by Robert Taylor and his son Michael. Jacqueline and Christina Becker were pronounced dead at the scene. Higbee was suspended without pay after being indicted and tried on 2 counts of vehicular homicide in the deaths of Jacqueline and Christina Becker. Higbee was subsequently acquitted on all counts.[21][22] The mother of Jacqueline and Christina Becker has settled a civil lawsuit for $2 million, while Taylor has filed a lawsuit against Higbee and the New Jersey State Police.[23] [24]

Rape Accusation

On December 6, 2007, a Rider University student met seven troopers at KatManDu, a Trenton nightclub. She went to the Ewing home of one of the troopers, where she claimed that she was raped. Although no criminal charges were filed, all seven troopers have been suspended without pay and face disciplinary action. Two untenured troopers face dismissal. In December 2009, a federal judge rejected their claim that the disciplinary proceedings were violating their rights.[25]

Sexual Assault and Harassment

On December 1, 2009, Trooper Alexis Hayes filed a seven count complaint in U.S. District Court in Camden alleging sexual harassment and assault by two superiors. A trooper since 2005, Hayes complained that during and shortly after her training at the state police academy, Sgt. Christine Shallcross allegedly drew on her with a marker. In 2009, Lt. Thomas King allegedly repeatedly called Hayes, sent her text messages, and once showed up at Hayes’s personal residence. In addition, King arranged for Hayes to be the sole female trooper assigned to the 49 member detail to honor the victims of the 2009 Pittsburgh police shooting, obtained a copy of her hotel room key, and sexually assaulted her. The sexual assault led to a pregnancy, and a subsequent abortion. After this incident, King continued to make sexual advances towards Hayes, and also shot her with pepper spray. Hayes also alleges that other employees of the State Police failed to investigate her complaints, and also violated her confidentiality.[26][27]

Hayes has been on paid sick leave since August 2009, after suffering a nervous breakdown. King and Shallcross were suspended and subsequently reinstated.[28]

Shallcross has in turn filed a lawsuit against the State Police, claiming that there was a conspiracy to discrimnate against her due to her sexual orientation.[29]

In May 2010, a criminal investigation into King's conduct was closed without any charges being filed.

In July 2010, Berlin police responded to Hayes's residents due to reports of a domestic disturbance. Hayes faces charges of aggravated assault and resisting arrest after she allegedly attacked police who responded to the call.[30]

Drunk Driving

Trooper Sheila McKaig was suspended for a year, after she was caught drinking and driving three times in 2008, yet had not been issued a ticket.[31]

See also

Portal icon New Jersey portal
Portal icon Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics portal

References

  1. ^ a b c USDOJ Statistics
  2. ^ 2007 Population Estimates
  3. ^ a b c d NJSP Functions
  4. ^ "They Get Their Man" Popular Mechanics, December 1930, pp. 929-936 article that shows the type of training given in the 1920s and 1930s
  5. ^ New Jersey State Police Academy
  6. ^ NJSP Motto
  7. ^ a b c d e f NJSP Academy
  8. ^ NJSP Uniform
  9. ^ NJSP Division Organization
  10. ^ Road Stations and Troops
  11. ^ Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics, 2000: Data for Individual State and Local Agencies with 100 or More Officers, United States Department of Justice, March 2004. Accessed May 19, 2007.
  12. ^ NJSP Accreditation
  13. ^ Joint Application For Entry of Consent Decree
  14. ^ Eradicating Racial Profiling
  15. ^ "State Police Racial Profiling Consent Decree Dissolved", New Jersey Attorney General Press Release, September 21, 2009, last accessed January 8, 2010
  16. ^ Jones, Richard G. (December 13, 2006). "Convicted Former Detective Sues Over State Police Stop". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/13/nyregion/13trooper.html?scp=1&sq=State+police&st=nyt. 
  17. ^ Jones, Richard G. (December 13, 2006). "Convicted Former Detective Sues Over State Police Stop". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/13/nyregion/13trooper.html?scp=1&sq=State+police&st=nyt. 
  18. ^ http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-jersey/njdce/3:2006cv03715/192507/129/
  19. ^ http://nj.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.%2FFDCT%2FDNJ%2F2009%2F20090319_0000439.DNJ.htm/qx
  20. ^ http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-jersey/njdce/3:2006cv03715/192507/129/
  21. ^ Fellow troopers showed support throughout trial, philly.com, June 9, 2009, accessed June 19, 2009
  22. ^ Acquitted N.J. State Trooper Robert Higbee seeks to get back on the job
  23. ^ Speeder says he heard, saw trooper crash into minivan, pressofatlanticcity.com, May 12, 2009, accessed May 18, 2009
  24. ^ Witness in Higbee trial describes "crazy driving", philly.com, May 12, 2009, accessed May 18, 2009
  25. ^ U.S. judge sends disciplinary hearing for N.J. troopers accused of sexual assault back to state court, NJ.com, December 17, 2009, last accessed January 8, 2010
  26. ^ N.J. State trooper accuses superior officer of sexually assaulting, impregnating her
  27. ^ Hayes v. New Jersey State Police: Complaint
  28. ^ N.J. State Police lieutenant, sergeant accused in sexual assault and harassment suit are suspended
  29. ^ N.J. State Police sergeant sues division for discrimination
  30. ^ http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/nj_state_trooper_suspended_wit.html#incart_mce
  31. ^ [1]

"The 20s History Begins". New Jersey State Police. http://www.njsp.org/about/20s.html#top. Retrieved December 21, 2006. 

"Core Functions". New Jersey State Police. http://www.njsp.org/about/functions.html. Retrieved December 21, 2006. 

General Order #1 "General Orders". New Jersey State Police. http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/about/genorder_1.html General Order #1. Retrieved December 21, 2006. 

"History of the Badge". New Jersey State Police. http://www.njsp.org/about/badge.html. Retrieved December 21, 2006. 

"Academy". New Jersey State Police. http://www.njsp.org/recruit/academy.html. Retrieved December 21, 2006. 

"NJ State Police Awarded National Accreditation". New Jersey State Police. http://njsp.org/news/pr072807.html. Retrieved August 17, 2007. 

"CALEA Accreditation Letter" (PDF). New Jersey State Police. http://njsp.org/news/pdf/pr072807-calea-letter.pdf. Retrieved August 17, 2007. 

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