Lessons Learned - So What’s A Good Cop?

So What’s A Good Cop?
By Joel E. Gordon
“Competence, like truth, beauty, and contact lenses, is in the eye of the beholder.” – Lawrence J. Peter The mastermind behind “The Peter Principle” concept of management.

We can all give clear examples of what defines a “dirty” or even just a “bad” cop, but what does being a good cop mean? In most professions, the goals that need to be met for competence are clear. A good doctor has healthy patients. A good lawyer wins cases. A good plumber keeps the water flowing and leaks from occurring. A good cook or chef… Well you get the idea.

In today’s environment with such divergent political viewpoints, a good cop is mostly defined by the view of the beholder. Self-identified progressives, liberals and conservatives will surely possess different views. Jurisdictional differences in ideology and policy also greatly impact the definition of what makes a good cop. Presumably, public safety and crime reduction should be universal goals.

One fact is certain, although many are quick to critique law enforcement duties and activities not everyone can or should do this job!

From Real Police to Security Monitors
In Illinois vs. Wardlow 528 U.S. 119 (2000) the Supreme Court held in a 5 to 4 decision that the police had reasonable suspicion to justify a stop because nervous, evasive behavior, like fleeing a high crime area upon noticing police officers, is a pertinent factor in determining reasonable suspicion to justify a stop.

But apparently this is no longer allowable in cities like Baltimore. Baltimore’s Consent Decree specifically states that police will not be able to stop someone just because the person is in a high-crime area, or just because the person is trying to avoid contact with an officer.

Will Consent Decree doctrines lead to the death of reasonable suspicion as we know it?

Consent Decree mandates include revised basic training for making stops and searches. It also commands officers to use de-escalation techniques and send specially trained units to distress calls involving people with mental illness.

The agreement discourages the arrests of citizens for “quality-of-life offenses” such as loitering, littering or minor traffic violations. It also requires a supervisor to sign off on requests to take someone into custody for a minor infraction. So while dealing with a suspect, will officers need to obtain a sergeant’s approval to arrest a violator for failure to obey a lawful order or even for resisting arrest? This seems like a formula to invite an escalation to assaults on police. When I think of city government combined with Department of Justice Consent Decree intervention, one word comes to mind: DELUSIONAL.

In a repudiation of broken windows policing policy, which historically has led to mass arrests, the pendulum is being swung in an opposite direction. If the goal is to identify lawbreakers and uphold reasonable societal norms of cleanliness and safety, then this new direction will continue to prove counterproductive to those goals.

Perhaps decades of concern over process and political correctness, along with adherence to the Peter Principle, have served to blur the lines to a definition of what is a good cop. Remember “The Peter Principle”? “In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence. In time every post tends to be occupied by an employee who is incompetent to carry out its duties. Work is accomplished by those employees who have not yet reached their level of incompetence.”

To me, a good cop will always be the peace keeper who gets to know the community to be served and who takes an ownership interest in the community’s success. One who insists on autonomy within reasonable guidelines, in the effort to keep criminal activity to a minimum in a primary area of responsibility. All while staying true to their oath of office in upholding the constitution and without fear or favor, standing ground against tyranny and unlawful activity from any directive or source.

As has been said many times over, “An officer is someone who wrote a blank check made payable to the community that they serve for an amount up to and including their life.” While there is truly no way to repay such fearless and competent dedication to a job of such epic proportions, we take every opportunity to say thank you to all of the countless good cops that we see out there on the job each and every day and night.

Joel E. Gordon is a former Baltimore City Police Officer and was Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has served as vice-chair of a regional narcotics task force and is a candidate for Preston County West Virginia Sheriff. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer’s Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. stillseekingjustice.com

Inside Perspective - Pursuits and the Clifton Police Department

Pursuits and the Clifton Police Department
By Lt. Patrick J. Ciser (Ret.)

(Disclaimer: This article is the sole opinion of the writer, and does not imply that these are the views, opinions, or policies of the Clifton NJ Police Department or any of its personnel.)

Pursuits: What an adrenaline rush! For this reason, an officer must be well-trained and have an even temperament. The pursuing officer and the supervisor approving the pursuit have to take so many things into account and constantly reevaluate the situation as it unfolds. What is the violator/perpetrator wanted for? What is the risk to the motoring public and pedestrian traffic, as well as time of day and traffic conditions? The condition of the vehicle and how much experience the officer has in high-speed chases must also be considered. (“A man’s gotta know his limitations,” Clint Eastwood - The Enforcer)

Supervisors and administrators have become “gun shy” over the years involving pursuits. Years ago, the New Jersey Attorney General developed guidelines to be considered when making the decision to pursue a suspect vehicle or not. Higher echelons in law enforcement across the state interpreted these guidelines differently. Some thought that if they followed the guidelines, they would be shielded from liability. Others, however, read them in a different light, believing that the state was trying to discourage pursuits. If we don’t back down to a man with a gun, why would we back down to a pursuit, as they are both inherently dangerous for the police and the public.

When I was on the job, the City of Clifton had approximately 30 cars stolen out of its jurisdiction each month. Newark, New Jersey’s largest city to our south, had an alarming number stolen each month by comparison. We used to call Newark “the stolen car capital of the world.” As a result, I’d say that 2/3 of the cars we were chasing either came out of Newark or were fleeing to Newark. Newark has always had a high crime rate, and I don’t think that their “No-Chase” policy helped much. Cocky car thieves in Newark used to do “donuts” in an intersection, just to get the cops to chase them; a lot of fun I guess for these incorrigibles on a boring night. The Clifton chief at the time, Frank LoGioco, surmised that if we break off all chases, our monthly number would most likely double, and most of us knew that he was right and applauded his stand on the matter. I arrested suspects in stolen cars out of Paterson who told me they were advised to drive around Clifton by their friends, and they wished they would have followed their advice. Now we all know that you can chase a vehicle for first-or second-degree crimes, and also for certain enumerated third-degree crimes. One such case is when the stolen car is being driven in a way that’s a danger to the motoring public and/or pedestrians. While I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not a good idea to chase cars for minor motor vehicle infractions, I’ve unfortunately seen some departments break off chases for robberies; which is of course, a second-degree crime in New Jersey. One Essex County town, I understand, told their officers to stay off Route 21 as they didn’t want to get “jammed up” and embroiled in a Clifton chase. It used to be upsetting years ago when a single, one-man Clifton radio car was in pursuit of a vehicle, and often couldn’t get help from a neighboring town when passing through. Cops from other jurisdictions shouldn’t leave another cop “out to dry” because they’re afraid to do their job! Or should I say, because their boss won’t let them do their job. But what if there’s a crash and the shooting starts? How would they feel at that cop’s funeral?

I continued to give kudos to Chief LoGioco when years ago, he made a statement to the Herald News; “We’ll chase you to Cape May if we have to,” (That’s the furthest town south, in the state of New Jersey before Delaware). A leader like that sets the tone for the department, builds morale, and gave Clifton the proud reputation of having “No Fear” when apprehending criminals. In 1992 alone, I was involved in 36 high-speed chases. Other cops like Sam Skidmore, Tommy Burrows (RIP) and Billy Stark, to name a few, also had high numbers back in the day. One thing that I learned early on was that people run for a reason. How many times do we find evidence of a crime inside the vehicle, or find out that there are several arrest warrants out for the driver? Over the years, I have found drugs, guns, assault victims and a body in the trunk one time.

You see, Clifton saw the Attorney General Guidelines as “permission” to chase felony vehicles, which is exactly what it does. This pretty much absolves the officers from any liability while performing their lawful duties, so long as they adhere to the guidelines. If they didn’t, who the hell would want to be a cop? State law reads that absent “Willful Misconduct,” an officer cannot be held liable as long as they adhere to the A.G. Guidelines and act in good faith. Federal law’s threshold is “Shocks the conscience.”

Years ago, I was working Clifton’s east-side traveling north on Hazel St. near Rt. 46 at the time of the call. Paterson was in pursuit of a vehicle that was wanted for street robberies using a handgun. A description of the car, its occupants (four black males), and license plate were broadcast by the pursuing unit. The suspect vehicle entered the Garden State Parkway South, off Hazel Street in Clifton, with two Paterson units pursuing. I, along with two other Clifton units, joined in on the pursuit. Remember, there were four occupants, and we didn’t know how many were armed. A State Police unit also appeared in my rear-view mirror as we crossed into Essex County. To my surprise, both Paterson units turned off their overheads and exited the Parkway in Bloomfield. Now, let me say this. I’ve witnessed Paterson police perform their duties in stellar fashion over the years, and I do not believe that this reflects on their department as a whole, as they’ve always had a lot of tough cops over the years. One supervisor, for reasons unknown, broke off those officers who must have been livid at the time. Can you imagine if we didn’t chase cars for second-degree crimes? Might as well turn in your badge and give up right there!

The chase, taking place in the late afternoon, was only hitting speeds of about 70 mph due to traffic. Suddenly, the pursued vehicle started to slow down to 60, and then about 50 mph. The back door on the left side swung open as the occupants threw one of the passengers from the vehicle. Clifton Officer Chris Vassoler and I were able to drive slowly around the person lying on the highway and continued pursuing the suspect vehicle, while Clifton Officer Bill Gibson, and the State Police unit came to a stop to protect the man from getting hit. Thinking he was pretty beaten up from hitting the macadam, Gibson and the trooper were surprised to see him now run like a rabbit toward the houses next to the Parkway. Gibson, being a former track star, was able to chase him down and tackle him. “One under,” Gibson reported to headquarters. I surmised at the time that they threw the guy out who suggested giving up, in order to cause a traffic accident and slow us down. Well, it worked, as they were now a distance between me and Vassoler, and took a quick exit in the area of East Orange. We also took the exit, but lost sight of the perps. Vassoler, checking a nearby project, found the vehicle abandoned and a gun under the front seat. THESE are the type of vehicles/suspects we should be chasing! Additionally, today, how many cars are valued at over $75k, which makes stealing one a second-degree crime! When you no longer combat crime, it only exacerbates the problem.

As public safety officers, we need to weigh the dichotomy of needing to apprehend felons and the desire to keep the public safe. I’m sure it would be difficult to have a consensus as to where to draw the line in relation to pursuits. Do we pursue violators for speeding, reckless driving, suspected drunken driving, disorderly persons offenses, or felonies only? Just like we have, rightfully so, use of force including deadly force policies/guidelines, we should not look negatively at the AG guidelines for pursuits. Simply follow the policy and you’re good to go. The problem that we face with feckless leadership in our departments is when bosses are afraid to let us do our jobs. It’s a sad state of affairs when both politicians and supervisors needlessly turn our hawks into doves.

Pat Ciser is a retired lieutenant from the Clifton Police Department, and a 7th Degree Black Belt. He was a member of 5 U.S. Karate Teams, winning gold medals in South America and Europe. He is the Author of BUDO and the BADGE; Exploits of a Jersey Cop (BN.com/Amazon), and is a guest writer for Official Karate Magazine.

Featured Article- The Resurgence of The Marxist Threat in America

The Resurgence of The Marxist Threat in America
By Chief Rich Rosell

Introduction
American law enforcement officers are constantly seeking to identify the next terrorist threat so they may prepare adequately to defend our nation and its citizens. The Jihadist threat is clearly here to stay, but are there groups in America that share the terrorist’s hatred of our way of life? Yes, and they are gaining strength and credibility with each mainstream media broadcast. Underestimate them at your peril. Beware the new wave of Marxism in American politics.

While it is true that right wing terrorist groups account for many more terror-related deaths than their left wing counterparts, perhaps as much as tenfold, let us not forget that Marxism has been said to be responsible for upward of 100 million deaths worldwide.1 And unlike the right wing threat, it is very clear that left wing violence appears to have strong support among the new extreme left politicians.

Only Mostly Dead

The violent American leftist movement seemed to have fizzled since the 1980s, largely due to the pressure brought upon them by law enforcement. Groups such as the Weather Underground (WU), the Black Liberation Army (BLA), the Black Guerilla Family (BGF), the May 19th Coalition and the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) took their battle against the American way of life to the streets with bombs, guns and terror, spanning over two decades. Their favorite targets were law enforcement officers and governmental buildings and functions. Oh, and let’s not forget the hapless collateral damage of civilians. Along the way, in the name of redistribution of wealth, they knocked off armored cars and banks to finance their cause. Apparently, wages earned through legitimate employment aren’t quite enough for an urban guerrilla to support a cause and keep food on the table for little anarchists. The most violent members of these groups ended up dead or in jail for the rest of their lives. Death and jail tend to have sobering effects on those comrades not quite as willing to sacrifice their lives for the cause, and so, their rebellion was over. But they did not simply disappear, nor did their cause. Could the remnants of the leftist cause from 30 years ago be the kindling for the recent upsurge in leftist violence? (No, Donald Trump does not cause violence. Violent people, using him as a scapegoat, cause violence).

In 2008, we saw the name of a repulsive violent left wing guerilla in the national headlines after a lengthy absence from the spotlight: Bill Ayers, former member of the Weather Underground, and unrepentant Marxist guerilla. Why were we blessed with his presence? He was an avid supporter of fellow Illinoisan, President Barrack Obama. Was it a coincidence that Mr. Ayers crawled out from under his rock, back into the spotlight, just as the nation elected the closest thing to a socialist POTUS we’ve had since FDR? For those of us still serving in law enforcement, this made our “Spider Sense” light up like the 4th of July.

In 2010, the Black Guerilla Family (BGF), a violent Marxist group thought to have been long extinct, resurfaced in Baltimore, more than 2,500 miles from when they were last spotted in Los Angeles in the 1980s. The BGF had ties to all of the American Marxist organizations back in the day, although they were not always happy with the direction of the movement. (It was a BGF member who killed Black Panther Party co-founder Huey Newton). In 2015, during the civil unrest that caused the City of Baltimore to burn while their mayor watched, the BGF was suspected of having been responsible for much of the violence, and was even rumored to have sought an alliance with the Bloods. (To refresh your memories, this is the same mayor who visited Cuba to share “Best Practices”).

Resurgence with Credibility

We are witnessing the unveiling of a socialist movement in American politics that has been brewing for decades. While (apparently) non-violent in nature, the leaders of this leftist political movement have unleashed their agenda with a fury over the past few years. Don’t be fooled, for they have a violent and willing armed wing at their beckoned call. Legitimate leftist politicians and celebrities are whipping like-minded Marxists in the streets into frenzy with promises of the Utopia their parents dreamed of, but never saw to fruition, hoping their shrill cries will convince them to take arms, and it is working. The brazenness of these new Marxists is alarming. In late March 2019, a conference featuring eight presidential candidates started off with a quote from Joanne Chesimard (Assata Shakur), a BLA radical, and convicted murderer of a New Jersey State Trooper.2 This is the same Joanne Chesimard to whom Colin Kaepernick is rumored to have donated $25,000 in 2018. In case you forgot him already, he is the poster child for the Black Lives Matter movement, yet another Marxist vehicle.3 In early April 2019, leftist darling Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York, commuted the sentence of Judith Clark, member of the Weather Underground and getaway driver of the car during the Brinks armored car murders that left two Nyack police officers and a civilian guard dead. Oh, how the willing media spun this travesty of justice, putting a picture of Clark at the top of the headline alongside her cute emotional support dog which the New York Department of Corrections provided to her, at taxpayer expense, during her incarceration. Perhaps we are to believe that if she can love a puppy, then all should be forgiven. The zeal and vigor with which these new age Marxist politicians yearn for the end of our democracy is troubling, especially when there are those out there who appear willing to use violence to achieve their goal.

The New Violent Face of Marxism in America

Law enforcement didn’t have to conduct much of an investigation to determine who is taking over the violent wing of the Marist movement. It needed only to look as far as the post-inaugural violence in Washington D.C. and the ANTIFA (Anti-Fascists) group.

ANTIFA is the name given to a group of fanatical leftists whose mission is to overthrow not only President Trump, but the American government, and replace it with a Marxist regime. Their slogan says it all: “No Trump, No Wall, No USA at All”. They have shown a propensity toward violence since their infancy, and are difficult to infiltrate due to the fact that the group ANTIFA is comprised (loosely when dormant) of individuals from other groups, expertly organized for battle at the right time.

ANTIFA has become today’s violent leftist terrorism concern. The group’s manifesto openly rejects free speech and defends assassinations.4 So radical is the group, that at a 2018 rally in Portland, they pummeled a fellow liberal for daring to carry an American flag to a rally.

ANTIFA is not without its supporters in politics and Hollywood. Last year, the deputy director of the Democratic National Committee, and US congressman from Minnesota, Keith Ellison, tweeted out a picture of the “Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook”, a book he declared would “strike fear in the heart of” Donald Trump.5 (Minnesota, of course, being the home of Jacob Frey, mayor of Minneapolis, who recently banned “warrior style” training for officers in his police department.)6 Celebrities Judd Apatow, Sarah Silverman and Debra Messing used social media platforms in early 2017, appearing to support the threat of violence at a UC Berkeley rally featuring Trump supporter, Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos.7

In a 2017 documentary film titled “America Under Siege, ANTIFA,” the film’s writer Trevor Loudon makes the claim that “Antifa today is like a franchise,” adding that “in many instances” it also has close ties to the Democratic Party. In this film, Loudon also claims the anarchist who won’t go away, Bill Ayers, is a supporter of the anarchy group Refuse Fascism, a group which Loudon claims is a branch of ANTIFA.

To get a feel for the violent and unrepentant nature of members of ANTIFA, one need only spend 10 or 20 minutes on Google searching videos, listening to the cavalier manner in which they refer to committing acts of violence on citizens of this country.

What Does This All Mean?

American politics has taken the leap from the center, to be fair, in both directions. President Trump is an unapologetic Nationalist. However, his Nationalist tendencies do not have violent supporters standing in the shadows, waiting to pounce on anyone who dares disagree with him. He has never condoned any violent act. It seems as though the response from the Democratic resistance was to leap in the opposite direction, embracing Marxism. Unfortunately for the left, with Marxism comes violence. American law enforcement faces a complex challenge in the very near future. Two worst-case scenarios immediately come into mind; 1) what happens if ANTIFA trades in their training wheels and hoodies for the bombs and guns used by their predecessors the WU, and 2) what if the remnants of WU, BLA, and BGF, et al decide to join together with them, forming some type of weird, yet very violent leftist Transformer? Will their supporters in leftist politics finally stand firm against this threat to our Republic, or will they rejoice in their creation?

Until such time, warriors, keep training for the worst (even those in the Minneapolis PD). Our republic needs you now more than ever.

1Courtois, Stephane, et al. (1999). The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression. Cambridge. Harvard University Press.
2Re, Greg. 2019. Fox News Online. Conference featuring 2020 Dems begins with fiery chant quoting fugitive cop-killer Assata Shakur. Retrieved April 2, 2019 from https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2020-dems-conference-begins-with-fiery-chant-quoting-fugitive-cop-killer-assata-shakur
3Powers, Thurston. 2016, The Federalist Online. How Black Lives Matter Is Bringing Back Traditional Marxism. Retrieved April 4, 2019 from https://thefederalist.com/2016/09/28/black-lives-matter-bringing-back-traditional-marxism/
4Yost, Zachary. 2018. ANTIFA’s Handbook: A Primer on Violent Liberalism. The American Conservative. Retrieved April 10, 2019 from https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/antifas-handbook-a-sinister-primer-on-violent-illiberalism/comment-page-1/
5Ibid.
6Mannix, Andy. 2019. Minneapolis to ban ‘warrior’ training for police, mayor says. Police Online. Retrieved April 20, 2019 from https://www.policeone.com/police-training/articles/483600006-Minneapolis-to-ban warrior-training-for-police-mayor-says/
7Staff Writer. 2017. CBS News.com. Retrieved April 321, 2019 from https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2017/02/02/celebs-voice-apparent-support-for-uc-berkeley-riot-over-breitbart-speaker/

Chief Rosell is currently the Police Chief and Public Safety Director for the Town of Indian River Shores, Florida, the former Director of Public Safety for the Town of Dover, NJ and Township of Springfield, NJ, and a 27-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police, retiring at the rank of Captain. He has a very diverse skill set with vast operational, training, policymaking, homeland security, leadership, management and administrative experience.

Blue Suicide Awareness Event

Blue Suicide Awareness Event

A large group of officers from all over the tri-state area packed the Sedona Taphouse in Cliffside Park, NJ on April 04, 2019 to discuss the sensitive issue of Blue suicide, and what steps to take to address it. Blue Magazine proudly partnered with Moment of Silence Inc. to bring officers a high-quality program aimed at saving lives. Numerous career professionals working to end Blue suicide addressed the crowd and offered various tips and observations to facilitate a much-needed discussion. The room was filled with positive energy and passion.

Blue Magazine’s Publisher Daniel Del Valle said, “I want everyone—officers, mental health and other professionals and citizens of our country to work together with endless passion and commitment to solving Blue suicide. For many years Blue suicide has sabotaged our law enforcement profession. We can do better. We must do better.”

Blue Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief George Beck said, “Emceeing this worthy event was one of the highlights of my work at Blue Magazine. To see that many people come together--those who were affected by Blue suicide and wanted to work toward saving officers--even if just one officer—is truly humbling. There are so many good-hearted officers who do things for the right reasons. I am glad to be working with them. Together we are making progress.”

Blue Magazine is committed to helping the law enforcement profession thrive and prosper. Far too many officers have taken their own lives and it’s time we all work to together to solve this problem. Stay tuned for future events that are currently in the planning stages. We all have a responsibility to address Blue suicide. Will you join us? Follow us on social media and visit www.thebluemagazine.com for additional information and future events. Stay safe.

Blue Events - Police playing basketball with local kids: Residents were happy to see officers on their streets for something good.

Police playing basketball with local kids: Residents were happy to see officers on their streets for something good.
By Jeffrey Stewart

The Garfield Police Community Affairs Division joined forces with the founder of the Basketball Cop Foundation. You may remember Officer Bobby White. He was the Gainesville, Florida officer called to a neighborhood because of a noise complaint. But instead of busting the kids - he jumped in. The dash cam video went viral, receiving millions of views. Officer White used his fame to start the Basketballcop Foundation. Through donations, the foundation provides basketballs and goals to cities that need positive police influence - setting up neighborhood events like this to bring the community together.

After noticing Garfield juvenile resident Jared Morris playing basketball on a basket without a backboard, Sgt. Jeff Stewart reached out to Officer White via Instagram and sent a picture of the broken set asking if there was anything he could do. Within minutes he replied, asking for the address of police HQ to send the new Spalding regulation hoop set.

The guys and girls from the Police Department put the hoop set together wheeled it down the street and surprised Jared Morris and his friends with a 5 on 5 pickup game with the new set up. All are thankful for Officer White and the Basketballcop Foundation for his #Hoopsnotcrime initiative.

Sgt. Jeff Stewart is a 20-year veteran of the Garfield NJ Police Department, currently assigned to the Community Affairs Division. Jeff has had a career-long passion to bridge the gap between cops and the community. Jeff is currently the Vice President of the NJ State Community Affairs Officers Association, which has given him the opportunity to teach both in-service and criminal justice students the importance of positive community engagement and diversity within law enforcement as a whole. Jeff has collaborated with some of the top law enforcement leaders across the globe within the community affairs space. Jeff maintains an open mind and is always willing to learn and collaborate with others, both law enforcement and civilian, to make the world a little better for all of us.

Contact Email- jstewart@garfieldpolice.org. Instagram DM@officerstewart

Remembrance - Article & Artwork by Jonny Castro

Article & Artwork by Jonny Castro
Deputy Justin DeRosier

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On April 14th, 2019, Deputy Justin DeRosier pulled up to a disabled motor home that was partially blocking a roadway in Kalama, Washington. What should have been a routine vehicle investigation, ended up with a suspect inside the RV opening fire on the Deputy. Justin managed to notify his dispatch that he was being shot at and provided the suspect’s description. Responding units found Deputy DeRosier critically wounded and defending himself with his patrol rifle. The officers immediately began lifesaving efforts once Justin lost consciousness but he passed away at the hospital a short time later. After an intense manhunt, the armed suspect was located the following day and killed. Deputy DeRosier was a six-year veteran of law enforcement and had served the citizens of Cowlitz County for the past three years. He’s the first and only officer to be killed in the line of duty in the department’s 165 year history. Justin leaves behind a wife and a five-month old daughter. He was 29 years old.

Entertainment - Just a Dude from Jersey: An Interview with Comedian Jim Florentine

Just a Dude from Jersey: An Interview with Comedian Jim Florentine
By Dan Lorenzo

Thanks to Steppin’ Out magazine, Jim Florentine reached out to me many years ago after reading my column. Jim has accomplished amazing things since then. He has appeared on The Howard Stern Show, Jimmy Kimmel, MTV, Monday Night Football and That Metal Show to name a few. Fame hasn’t changed Jim at all. He’s still, “Just a dude from Jersey with a bunch of dirty jokes who knows a little bit about heavy metal and can make crank calls. “I just got lucky in my career”. Jim’s book Everybody Is Awful (Except You) is a must read as is his comedy special I Got the House, which is partially about his wife cheating on him and the results of the divorce that followed.

When you first found out your wife was cheating, did you ever think something so positive will come out of it?

(laughs) No, you don’t think that. You know when you go through some shit in your life that there’s always going to be light at the end of the tunnel, but when it first happens you can’t see that.

How hard was it for you to go onstage after that to try and be funny?

It was tough because I always like working on new material, and I had just had filmed a new comedy special so I was working on a whole new set before it got released and then that shit went down and I had all these road gigs. I was out of my mind. I couldn’t think of anything. I had complete writer’s block. I wasn’t focused on new material so I had to go through my old stand-up from the past five or six years and just pick out the “greatest hits” so I could get through those gigs until I had a breakthrough and I started writing again.

Stand-up comedians travel a lot. I imagine a lot of times it’s just you out on the road- do you ever get lonely or are you too busy to get lonely?

Yeah, I mean you do because sometimes you’re just holed up in a hotel room for three or four days and sometimes you don’t have a car. It can get lonely, but it’s all about the show that night.

I picture you as a guy who can never relax.

No, I can do that definitely. I think you need one day a week to just do nothing. I don’t feel guilty about not working. As a comic you do for a long time, you think, “Man, if I’m not onstage five or six nights a week people are passing me by”, but you have to get over that mentality. As long as you’re funny, you’re funny. You have to have some kind of life.

Your book is hysterical. Did it offend any of your friends or family? I’m assuming you have family or friends who do some of the annoying things you described on Facebook.

I didn’t hear that from them. They all seemed to enjoy it. They all know how I am. They know what annoys me. I’m sure other people who read it thought, “What is this? Why is he so negative?” That’s what a comic does! We pick out shit that bothers people that most people can relate to.

If you hurt somebody does that bother you? Do you feel guilty?

I feel bad, but I won’t feel guilty and dwell on it. Anything can set somebody off. You don’t know. I could be talking about my divorce and somebody in the audience could be going through a really nasty divorce at that time. I’ve got that. A guy has said, “Oh man you reminded me of that. I just wanted a few laughs and you’re bringing up divorce.” I’ll tell him, “Well how would I know you’re going through a divorce? I can’t take a survey from the crowd every night.

I just listened to your podcast. You sound so angry, but I think of you as a happy person. You have a great life, right?

Absolutely, but look… people send me stuff that they know will annoy me so I can muster up the rage when I see something stupid on Facebook or Instagram. People taking pictures of their food and people writing, “Mmmm” underneath.

What was the best moment of your career?

I would say going on Howard Stern with him having me come in and sit in. That basically launched my career. He liked my prank calls. I got everything pretty much from doing that show.

I Got the House is on Amazon Prime, iTunes and other popular outlets.

Home Advice - Consider a 2nd Home Investment for College-Bound Kids

Consider a 2nd Home Investment for College-Bound Kids
By Fasil Khan

Do you have a kid who’s planning to attend school away from home? Instead of throwing away money toward rent or on-campus living, consider purchasing a second home. The benefits of this type of investment can be far greater than you may realize.

Depending on where your college-bound kid goes to school, it may be cheaper to buy than rent. Overall living expenses can quickly add up at college or university. Instead of spending several thousand dollars per semester for campus living, buying a home for your student could end up costing less.

While tax deductions for home owners and property investments have changed, there are still some benefits you can take advantage of with a second home. Property tax deductions will apply to some degree. Depending on specific circumstances, you may also be able to deduct mortgage interest costs. The same possibility applies to equity loan interest payments. When you invest in a second home, be sure to meet with a tax specialist to ensure you get the most in applicable deductions.

Keep in mind; investing in additional properties makes purchasing more real estate in the future easier. One thing I share with my clients who are looking to invest is that owning more than one property is a solid way to generate more income and additional savings that can be used to continue building your real estate portfolio. Buying a home for your college-bound student could be the ideal way to get started in this phase of real estate investing.

As a second home investment, a house for your college student can also provide other practical benefits. More privacy, better parking and access to their own laundry appliances are just a few. If you find a home located near campus, your student can take advantage of the ease of access to classes and school resources. Another potential benefit is to have a place ready for you when it comes to family visits.

While your student is in school, additional savings can be achieved with a larger house where roommates can help cover the monthly costs. Not only will the mortgage payment be less, so too will utilities in terms of direct, out-of-pocket expenses. If you decide to sell after their college career is done, the equity built in this type of investment can help toward your next real estate purchase, such as a retirement home. It’s like having a built-in savings account.

Other options once schooling has been completed include selling the home to your child as a starter home investment or moving into the home yourself. If your college graduate moves away, you can turn the second home into a rental. Properties near higher education institutions are highly sought after, making this an excellent income opportunity for years to come.

If you have a passion for realty, and for helping people, becoming a licensed real estate agent may be the next adventure for you to explore. Is your interest piqued? Call or email me to learn more about what it takes to be a successful agent.

Please support me, Fasil Khan as I participate in the Police Unity Tour for Detective Tamby Yagan from Paterson Police Department. http://my.policeunitytour.com/Khan

Fasil Khan is a Paterson Police Officer and Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams Village Square. He enjoys helping his fellow law enforcement officers with the purchase of investment properties, as well as general selling, purchasing needs. Have questions? Connect directly by calling 201-739-7397 or email: fkhan@khanrealestateteam.com.

Inside View - Addressing Leadership Dysfunction

Addressing Leadership Dysfunction
By Christoper Scilingo

Leaders of poorly managed law enforcement organizations don’t typically like to admit their departments are poorly managed. They often act like everything is OK or prefer the head-in-the-sand mentality when the subject is brought up. But the reality is that not every organization is run successfully, many are failing, and many could turn around for the better, but they have to get past the constant excuses and negativity.

My favorite excuse is past practice—we’ve always done it that way. I call it an excuse because that is exactly what it is. It is an excuse used to suffocate concepts of looking for new ways, better ways, or more efficient ways to improve business. Remember, we are in the service business. This discouraging management culture that does not support looking for new ways to become more effective as a law enforcement organization hurts officers plus the communities they serve. Then again, a poorly managed law enforcement organization is probably not thinking about providing top tier services at all. They are probably thinking about ways to maintain the bare minimum mediocre services while suffering from limited organizational continuity.

What I mean by that is, it seems that management within a poorly managed law enforcement organization is more concerned with regulating every move that officers make, rather than empowering them to do their jobs successfully. This is not a new discovery; look up on the Internet about troubled and dysfunctional law enforcement departments. Why can’t police officers police themselves? Odds are it is because they are members of a poorly managed department or organization. I have said it before and I will say it again that it starts at the top. If problems within a department are identified but no attempt is made to correct them or measures put in place to prevent the problems from arising in the future, then you have a failure of management.

For the most part, law enforcement is a public sector business, but that does not mean that we can’t take a few tips from the private sector. That’s the sector that strives to be successful and efficient and often removes employees who aren’t contributing to their success. I am not saying that law enforcement organizations should fire cops who don’t write enough tickets or don’t arrest enough criminals. But we should learn from private sector businesses that are constantly searching for new ways to operate better to provide a higher quality product or service.

Improvement is the key term here; why don’t poorly managed law enforcement organizations want to improve? What makes them want to continue using bad past practices and encourage the corrosive mindset of doing things the way they have always been done. This isn’t policing in the 1970s, not the 1990s; we are policing in the 21st century where information is moving at tremendous speed. Poorly managed law enforcement organizations that are stuck in the past are policing behind the curve and will never get ahead.

There are so many factors involving a failing police department. Are the wrong people being promoted or moved into management positions? Is there an outside influence that, once at the top, encourages management to run an ineffective organization? Does the phrase “forget where you came from” actually occur? These are questions I ask myself sometimes when I become aware of poorly managed law enforcement organizations. I say to myself, “What are those folks doing wrong over there that can’t be fixed with a little bit of trust and communication.”

Dysfunction at the top, bottom and in between of a law enforcement organization must be treated like cancer. It must be aggressively approached with care, and all options must be considered. It must be isolated and rooted out. Lastly, it must be monitored to prevent recurrence and lessons must be learned to prevent it from spreading throughout the organization in the first place.

Chris Scilingo is a police officer in NJ since 2011. He’s a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is near completing his bachelor’s degree at Fairleigh Dickson University; where he also plans to pursue a master’s degree. Chris aspires to teach higher education after transitioning from law enforcement.

Tribute - Our Angel From Above

Our Angel From Above
By Joel E. Gordon

There were many benefits to being a sworn member of the 8th largest police department in the United States with the many specialized support service units that are available, not the least of which is the Baltimore City Police air support unit known as Foxtrot.

I learned the value of having air support early in my career. By my third night working a post by myself on the 4x12 shift I found myself in foot pursuit of a suspect in an assault who was armed with a gun. I pursued the suspect for over three long blocks in dark trash laden and rat infested alleys. I was so intent on catching this “bad guy” that I really forgot about my radio, gun or anything else. All of my energy was spent on the chase with tunnel vision towards an apprehension. Fortunately, the police helicopter, Foxtrot, had my six and was overhead calling out my location by radio while spotlighting the chase. I was really lucky too because the suspect threw his gun while running from me (later safely recovered) and didn’t choose to shoot at me (probably only due to the helicopter as witness). I caught up to the suspect, got him up against the side of a brick building, searching, cuffing and arresting him. My first big arrest!

Many times, after roll call at the western police district stationhouse, we were reminded of Foxtrot’s presence from above. While exchanging shifts by taking over the car assignment and radio from the previous shift officer it was common for a familiar helicopter sound to be heard approaching from the distance. Then, just above our vehicles which were lined up in front of our police station on North Mount Street, Foxtrot would appear swooping down in an acrobatic fashion as a reminder that they were up and flying to assist wherever they could.

The pilot when this would occur was always Flight Officer Barry W. Wood. A veteran combat veteran pilot from the battlefields over Vietnam, he hadn’t joined the Baltimore Police Department to cruise Baltimore city streets. He joined to fly over them.

He served in Vietnam for three years and it is told once safely landed a Huey packed with soldiers after another helicopter flew too close and clipped off his landing gear. He was honorably discharged from the Army on April 1, 1971, and joined the city police force 26 days later becoming one of the first Baltimore Police helicopter pilots.

Wood spent more than 42,000 hours flying over Baltimore in a quarter-century of chasing stolen cars and helping officers find elusive suspects. He once piloted one of the choppers from Los Angeles, where the aircraft were made, to Baltimore, a seven-day trip.

On November 4, 1998 tragedy struck when he was responding to a call to assist fellow officers. The Schweizer Helicopter 300c engine suddenly and unexpectedly exploded. Barry maneuvered the helicopter to avoid endangering the citizens and the police in the area. He turned the helicopter so he took the impact of the crash and saved the life of his observer and partner losing his own life in the process.

Barry is memorialized at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. in its Wall of Honor as an Air and Space Leader located at Foil: 33 Panel: 2 Column: 1 Line: 7

Additionally, the Baltimore Police Department dedicated a new Eurocopter EC-120 in his remembrance… Dedicated to Flight Officer Barry Wood, passed away on November 4, 1998 protecting the City Of Baltimore and doing what he loved to do, Flying.

Flight Officer Barry Winston Wood was a true hero and a great man. The memory of Barry will never be forgotten.

Perhaps it is expressed best in this tribute located on the Baltimore City Police History website:

A Man Who Loved To Fly

If your thoughts go to him 
and they go sad

Just remember this,

He has no barriers anymore,

For now the clouds aren’t closed doors.

He has no limits

It does not matter how high he flies.

The Good Lord has set him free.

And remember this, if it is a shooting star you see,

Think of him and you will know

That his heart and soul will never die,

For he now lives in the sky,

What a wondrous thing for a man who loved to fly.

To the men and women of the Baltimore City Police Department he truly was and remains our angel from above.

Joel E. Gordon is a former Baltimore City Police Officer and was Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has served as vice-chair of a regional narcotics task force and is a candidate for Preston County West Virginia Sheriff. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer’s Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. stillseekingjustice.com

Contemplation - Letter to the Man I Killed

Letter to the Man I Killed
By Kirk Lawless

Some people know this about me; others do not. I have killed a man. This is not a confession; it is just fact. I have nothing to hide about it. I am not ashamed of the fact. I have no regrets about doing it. I was doing my job. At the time of your death, I was a police officer. And, you tried your best to kill me. I am the police officer that killed you.

I hope you were not long in your suffering, but as I am aware, during the short time I spent with you, listening to your cries of agony and for mercy, the curses you spat at me, I endured, as you bled to death. I endured.

I hope you had a chance to reconcile with our creator before you went, and that angels bore you away to a better place. I would have prayed with you had there been time, but there was not, so I could only pray for you. And, occasionally I still do.

People who choose a path like the one you chose probably don’t weigh into the equation, the most dreadful consequences of their actions. I weighed it into my own equation every day as a police officer.

I have experience with death. In fact, death and I are quite intimate with each other. You have your death. I died a physical death once, albeit briefly, but I was brought back. I wondered for what, a specific event? Your death?

I never really feared a physical death. When I came back, that lack of fear was reaffirmed. I suppose that made me infinitely more dangerous as an adversary, more so than someone merely chest thumping with a “nothing to lose” attitude, at the risk of sounding cliché.

I took your life; I get that. But still, you took something from me and you changed me… forever. I have been a hunter for most of my life, including a hunter of armed men. What Hemingway said about the hunting of armed men and liking it, is true. You never really care for anything else thereafter. I hunt animals still, but often do not pull the trigger. Perhaps in time, this will change.

Killing a man is nothing to take lightly. It changes you. It changes what people think about you. You aren’t the same person anymore. And still, I love life. I revel in the beauty of it, both the simplicities and intricacies of it. I appreciate life. This solitary act does not define me; it doesn’t even scratch the surface.

People, who do not “know,” talk about it as though it was no big deal, but I will tell you it is a “huge” deal. “Get over it,” “Put it behind you,” “Try to not think about it,” which are all great thoughts. Were it that easy, who wouldn’t? It does not work that way.

Perhaps people would begin to understand the gravity of it, were they to see a police officer choking on the barrel of their own gun, trying to turn “it” off. Or writing about it, with the muzzle of a gun pressed against their temple. Some succumb to the haunting despair.

I will not.

To the contrary, I consider “It” a visit from an old enemy. I sometimes welcome the nightmares, the gore, and the violence, to let “It” know, “It” will never best me. The outcome is the same at its base.

I live.

Whatever attacks me does not. They fail; I survive. When I awaken from my sleep (If you can call it that) dripping slick with sweat, heart pounding, I am still alive!

I get to relive “our” event every day since it happened, not because I want to; I have no choice, it just comes calling whenever it feels like it, no warning; it just intrudes, multiple times a day. What triggers it? Everything and nothing at all.

I’m always expecting the unexpected, always aware. I have a heightened tactical plan to kill everyone I meet. Only a police officer or soldier would understand that. It is not paranoia. I am “situationally aware,” even in my dreams. Realistically, there is always a target on my back, but that’s what I signed up for when I pinned on the badge. This is just part of what it is like to be a police officer.

Walt Whitman said, “If you done it, it ain’t bragging.” But, if you haven’t done it, the things I have done; your opinion, armchair quarterbacking, and constant shuffling of the “What if?” deck, really doesn’t mean shit to me.

Still, my adversary, I admire your tenacity. It was a fair fight for the most part, well you cheated a little, but still, it was a fight to the death, your death. But I don’t hate you, truth be told, I just feel sorry for you.

Oddly, I have not shed one tear for you, and I have cried many times during my career. My lamentation over the loss of my favorite bird dog was loud, tearful, and long lasting. Maybe because he was a true friend, and you, you were just what you were, my enemy, and that changes everything.

You made fatal mistakes, young and invincible, tough guy full of bravado whether false or real. You had choices; you made poor ones. I was already committed when I climbed out of my patrol car and stood on the asphalt. Perhaps you just hesitated, or maybe, were just too slow? The latter is obvious fact. Everything else is merely speculation.

I would like to thank you for some things, like looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life, and for cutting my career thirteen years short. Thanks for helping me see that my department was totally incapable of handling the shooting investigation and subsequent homicide investigation.

It perfectly illustrated the creed “A false friend is more dangerous than a known enemy.”

It was a real eye opener, after many years on the job to realize that incompetent supervisors and politicians have no hesitation to hang a target on the back of a good police officer for doing his job and doing it well.

I wonder how many other officers have had their Civil Rights violated by their own departments during post-shooting investigation fiascos? Police officers have rights too. Please keep that in mind.

While my career was cut short, I am thankful I would never again (at that agency) have to endure shoddy procedures and listen about my “other options” in a justified deadly-force scenario, from cowards and idiots. Nor will I have to worry about being returned to the front lines as soon as possible without a chance to decompress, nor worry that a modicum of protection would be afforded my family, who has suffered greatly at their hands.

I remember visiting the scene of the shooting on the first anniversary of your death, not knowing what I would find there. What I found there was absolutely nothing to mark the occasion. There was however, a small token of remembrance there when I left. That struck me as very sad; the only one who bothered to pay their respects was the one who put you in the ground.

Were I able, I would sit down and share a drink with you and a fine meal, I would do so before I broke bread with some of my so called “brothers” or the “politicians” from my town, who are so quick to feed us to the wolves. I mean that with the very fiber of my soul.

You were a worthy adversary.

I thank you for bringing a “real” gun to a “real” gunfight. I thank you for turning your attention to me and leaving the younger officer alone. I thank you for the baggage that keeps me in a perpetual state of being physically and mentally worn out.

Perhaps I’ll see you on the other side, if you reconciled, and the angels came to take you away to Heaven that early summer morning. If so, maybe we can have that drink and share a meal?

If not, you made another bad choice, infinitely worse than the first, and I will never see you again.

With Sincerity,

The police officer who killed you.

At the bottom line, it’s all about saving just ONE life.

Kirk Lawless is a 28 year, decorated, veteran police officer from the St Louis area. He’s a former SWAT operator, narcotics agent, homicide investigator, detective and Medal of Valor recipient. Off the job due to an up close and personal gunfight, he now concentrates on writing. He’s a patriotic warrior, artist, poet, actor, musician, and man of peace.

Operation Rebound - Back the Blue

Back the Blue
By Michael D. Boll

A few years ago at a charity race, I had the pleasure of meeting United States Marine Corps Iraqi War veteran Tim Shea. Tim is an amazing man who donates countless hours every day to help the families of fallen officers and prevent Blue suicide. Tim is one of the most passionate men that I ever met, and he has dedicated his life to help our blue families during some hard times. Soon Tim will be doing an event with our team, and we couldn’t be any more excited to be a part of his extraordinary “Back the Blue” charity. Here’s his story in his own words.

Back the Blue Running was created by combining two things that are very vital to the way I live. This nonprofit is my catalyst for allowing me to be able to show my support for our law enforcement families while using a unique approach. Running long distances has recently become a big passion of mine over the past few years. The idea of running distances in the Ultra (anything over a 26.2 marathon) category has been an eye-opening experience each time I attempt those distances. My hope is that using my platform or running while wearing thin blue line gear or carrying a thin blue line American flag will allow passing officers to take notice and see that they are still supported. I do not only do this for our officers, but I also do it for their families. Sometimes those are the members of our community who need to see the support more than the rest of us. I carry the memory of not only my brother (LODD 7-18-2004) but of all our blue members that we have lost protecting us. Some we may have lost to gunfights, some to traffic collisions, and more than ever we have lost too many to suicide.

Being a veteran of Operation Iraqi freedom, and someone who carries an active PTSD diagnoses, I can somewhat assimilate what out Law Enforcement members are going through. I understand the toll that mental illness, exhaustion and thinking no one understands you takes on the body, and how it can make the whole world feel against you.

Each year, starting in 2018, I will be dedicating all funds raised for charities that support the same causes I believe in. In 2018 I performed a solo 34.8 mile run in Delaware in my brother Chris’ memory to raise awareness to the families who lose an officer, as well as funds to be given to Concerns of Police survivors, Delaware chapter, with nearly $1,500 being donated to their programs. In 2019 I am concentrating my efforts on the law enforcement suicide epidemic, with all funds raised going to the “Blue H.E.L.P” organization, whose mission is:

“To reduce mental health stigma through education, advocate for benefits for those suffering from post-traumatic stress, acknowledge the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers we lost to suicide, assist officers in their search for healing, and to bring awareness to suicide and mental health issues.”

Donations can be made at www.backthebluerunning.com/donations

Michael D. Boll is a retired police sergeant in NJ. He previously served as a United States Marine, and is a Gulf War veteran. He is the founder of Operation Rebound Racing Team, a nonprofit organization that helps wounded veterans and first responders enjoy a better quality of life.

Fitness - Fairview Police Chief Marty Kahn Wins at Recent Bodybuilding Competitions

Fairview Police Chief Marty Kahn Wins at Recent Bodybuilding Competitions
By George Beck, Ph.D.

Fairview Police Chief Marty Kahn’s impressive bodybuilding wins didn’t happen overnight. After years of working out, Kahn, 48, started preparing for the competitions in December 2018. Recently he entered into the bodybuilding divisions for the Pittsburgh Championships (NPC) in the Masters 40+ division, True Novice division, and Open division. Kahn placed 2nd in both over 40+ and True Novice. He placed 8th overall in the Open division of the Light Heavyweight. That competition took place on May 4.

Kahn also entered into the Mid Atlantic Classic in Brick, NJ. He competed in the Masters 40+, Novice, Pure Natural (drug tested), and Open divisions, placing 1st in Masters 40+, Pure Natural, and Novice, and secured 2nd place in the Open division.

Kahn’s road to bodybuilding competitions began when Lawrence Achey and Christopher Popper from Police Academy Training Help (PATH) convinced him to try competitions back in the fall of 2018. Kahn, always up for a challenge to push his workout to the limits, decided to go for it.

Kahn worked with Achey and Popper (both detectives at the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office) as mentors and began speaking on the importance of health, nutrition and wellness in law enforcement to the students of the Career Development Course, run by William Schivella.

Kahn was coached by Carlo Filippone, owner of Elite Lifestyle Cuisine and The Chicken Pound, for the competitions. Carlo is a former coach and IFBB professional bodybuilder himself. Many know him as The Muscle Chef (Instagram- @therealmusclechef). He is a childhood friend of Kahn and eagerly began assisting the chief to prepare for the bodybuilding shows. Carlo graciously took on the task (coming out of his coaching retirement) to support him on the journey into bodybuilding.

“Diet, proper nutrition, and a mindset to win and overcome against any and all odds is what it takes to compete on any level in bodybuilding,” Kahn said. “Getting over the voices that say it’s impossible to win is the first hurdle, then it’s all discipline and hard work that pays off.”

Kahn is a role model for officers seeking to live a better and healthier life. Bodybuilding is hard work, but with commitment and fortitude, the possibilities are endless. Blue Magazine commends Chief Kahn on his recent bodybuilding wins and looks forward to following him to more victories. Congratulations!

You can follow Chief Kahn on Instagram @fit_and_blue or on Facebook at FitandBlue. He also has a website www.fitandblue.com.

George Beck is a police detective, award-winning journalist, and managing editor of Blue Magazine. He holds a Ph.D. in History & Culture from Drew University. He is the author of The Killer Among Us and several other books. His nonfiction and short stories have been featured in magazines and anthologies nationally and internationally.

Moving Forward - Legally Achieving the American Dream: Now Campaigning for Mayor

Legally Achieving the American Dream: Now Campaigning for Mayor
By Valerie Velazquez-Stetz (Ret.) J.C.P.D.

Arvin Amatorio, Esq. was born to Librado and Sonia Amatorio in the northern section of the Philippines, along with his five siblings. Both of his parents were school teachers and his mother was also involved with politics. Education, their Catholic religion, and community service were very important to the Amatorio family. All through grammar school, Arvin aspired to be a Catholic priest. It was during high school where he became interested in law. Arvin went to college in Manila and then attended the College of Law at San Sebastian where he earned his law degree. His girlfriend Ilya was also educating herself and received her nursing degree. She traveled to NYC to work on several projects. In 2002 she asked Arvin to accompany her several times, which he eventually did. Ilya felt a connection to NYC and wanted to stay when she was offered gainful employment. Ilya works as a nurse administrator at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC.

Ilya discussed her plans with her boyfriend Arvin and was determined to stay with or without him. Both of their entire families were living in the Philippines and Arvin had to choose his career in the Philippines or starting over with his love in the United States. He made a great choice and began looking into obtaining a green card and gainful employment. He became an adjunct professor in one of Manhattan’s private colleges, all while studying for the Bar exam in NYC. Arvin and Ilya eventually married and were both employed in NYC when they were having their first-born son and they wanted to achieve another American dream of becoming homeowners.

They purchased their first home in Bergenfield N.J., which was affordable for them. Arvin passed the Bar exam on his first attempt. He worked for a few firms and eventually started his own successful practice based in NYC, where he found his passion for immigration law. Arvin has been representing clients for over thirteen years, with matters before US Immigration Offices and US Immigration Courts Nationwide. His passion is helping others fulfill their dream to stay and live in the United States legally.

Arvin felt a strong connection to his new-found home, Bergenfield, NJ, where Filipinos are the largest ethnic group and he developed relationships within the community. He was asked to run for Councilman of Bergenfield by his peers, which he has been very successful at while serving the people as a two term Councilman and Council President. He has been the chairman of the finance committee for the past four years that delivered 0% municipal tax increase for two consecutive years amidst the rising cost of government in the State and in the Country.

Additionally, he is on the police and DPW committees. Being elected to the Council is one of the highest honors and privileges of his life. As an immigrant, he was entrusted with public office and he is taking this as a sacred obligation, which leads to his announcement to run for Mayor in November, alongside Council members Kornbluth and Deauna. If victorious in November, Amatorio will become New Jersey’s second elected Filipino mayor. Amatorio states, “I would like to bring Bergenfield to a different level. I know I can do more for the town and excel.” Arvin spearheaded disabled veteran tax exemption to make sure our returning veterans and surviving spouses have property tax relief. Arvin has the upmost respect for the military and first responders. Other accomplishments include reduction of borough debt of more than four million dollars and lowered tax increases by more than 50%.

As if law and politics were not enough, Arvin serves as the CEO of Pro Health Consulting LLC. and Apex Health Care. Pro Health engages in managing medical facilities, with concierges’ service to first responders, educators, local, county, state, and federal employees and their families. Apex is a professional medical staffing company. Despite his busy schedule, family always takes first priority. He loves spending quality time with his two sons and wife as he instills in his two boys the importance of love of God, family and country.

Valerie A. Stetz (Velazquez) retired on accidental disability from the Jersey City Police Dept. She was injured in a radio car accident responding to a robbery in progress call. Valerie is a member of the NJ Police Honor Legion. She is the radio host for the popular Internet show “Blue World Uncensored” on DDV RADIO.

Incumbent Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada Discusses His Bid For Re-Election

BLUE magazine: What do the people of Sussex County have to say about their Sheriff’s Office in regard to areas that may need improvement and how do you plan to meet their expectations?

Sheriff Michael F. Strada: I believe we meet and even exceed the expectations of the people of Sussex County as I often times receive positive feedback from our citizens, not only in person but by thank you letters and awards. We are very involved in our communities with our school children, civic organizations and our senior population. While addressing the community, I always engage and ask what their needs are or what we could possibly change to better meet their needs. 

In terms of intelligence-led policing, where does the Sheriff’s Office currently sit, and what measures are you taking to keep up with technological advances in law enforcement?

We have a state of the art Communications Center along with a new CAD system that enables us to both communicate with law enforcement agencies and all the other emergency services including fire and first aid. We are also the single answering point for any text to 911 calls within the county as well ask having the technology to implement reverse 911 calls.

In addition, all of our marked cars that perform traffic enforcement have onboard computers and cameras. Our officers on the road wear body cameras and have the ability to use e-citations while performing their duties. Each car on the road is equipped with AVL/GPS tracking to assist our Communications Center dispatchers. We utilize Rapid SOS technology as well as newly implemented license plate readers.

Community policing, what does it mean to you and how does the Sheriff’s Office practice it throughout Sussex County? 

Community policing means getting out in the community with our officers and engaging with the public. We have 32 senior citizen organizations in our county. We make it a priority to work with county Senior Services and meet with all of these organizations on a regular basis.

We recently just formed a group at our office that is called the Sussex County Sheriff’s Senior Citizens. We meet monthly and talk about concerns that the seniors may have relating to safety in their lives. Some of the presentation topics include emergency preparedness, active shooter-civilian response, fire safety and internet/telephone scams.

The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office was the first law enforcement agency in the state to implement a Senior Wristband Program in 2014. At no cost to the taxpayers, we distribute soft latex wristbands to our senior population with an individual identification number assigned to the senior citizen. Our participating senior citizens provide us with their name, address, contact information as well as doctor information and emergency contacts. Should the senior be unable to communicate, the first responders in the County are able to call our Communications Center to help identify the senior who may be in need of assistance. This in conjunction with our Senior ID program means that seniors are kept safer when they go out into the community.

In addition to our senior community, we have two officers dedicated to community relations work on weekend shifts by attending community days within the municipalities and we do child safety seat events as well as fingerprinting children when requested.

School safety is a major concern and widely debated. What role does the Sheriff’s Office take to ensure Sussex County schools are safe? 

Our officers teach LEAD (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) in 10 Sussex County schools. In collaboration with the New Jersey State Police, we also conduct lockdown drills in our county schools that are policed by the New Jersey State Police. Several of our officers have completed training with the New Jersey State Police in responding to an active shooter. In addition, several of our schools have cameras linked to our County Communications Center where we can monitor if an incident occurs. 

Statistically the opioid epidemic is increasing, and Sussex County is not excluded from these stats. How will you combat this growing crisis?

We continue to have officers assigned to our county narcotics task force to assist in the opioid crisis that has affected our County. All of our officers on the road as well as within our County Courthouse have the ability to administer Narcan. We work with the Center for Prevention and Counseling by allowing counselors specifically dedicated to opioid abuse to have the ability to counsel inmates that are requesting assistance. Our medical staff at our correctional facility is able to offer a free shot of Vivitrol upon an inmate leaving the facility. 

Some Sussex County inmates have recently been shipped out to Morris County. How does this benefit the people of Sussex County and does this move run the risk of laying officers off?

With the implementation of bail reform, this has taken a drastic effect on our inmate population.  We have seen a 66% drop in our Average Daily Population since bail reform took place.  Our current ADP is around 74 inmates.  This is in sharp contrast to six years ago when we had over 200 inmates housed in Sussex County.  With the reduction in inmates and our female inmates moving to Morris County, this has enabled us to close two floors at our correctional facility.  We have reduced our staff from a high of 82 sworn officers to 63 sworn officers.  This reduction in staff was achieved without any layoffs as these officers were just not replaced due to retirements or officers finding other employment.  In addition, we have been able to hire several corrections officers as Sheriff’s Officers.

A 2013 Jail Needs Assessment Study was initiated and approved by the Board of Chosen Freeholders.  This study revealed that 60 million dollars would be needed to modernize our correctional facility.  With a declining inmate population, it does not make financial sense to spend millions of taxpayers’ dollars on a facility that has a declining inmate population due to bail reform.  This same study analyzed the cost per night on average for each inmate at $197.10.  Our contract with Morris County allows us to house Sussex County inmates at a greatly reduced cost of $105 per night within their state of the art facility.  The changes we have made within the correctional facility have enabled us to save 1.9 million dollars alone in 2018.

As far as the future of our correctional facility, this will be a decision that the Board of Chosen Freeholders will have to make.

I will always continue to look at ways to enhance services and reduce costs.

Thank you for sharing your insight with us and we wish you the best of luck in the upcoming Primary. 

Candidate Andy Boden Discusses His Run for Sussex County Sheriff

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BLUE magazine: What do the people of Sussex County have to say about their Sheriff’s Office regarding areas that may need improvement and how do you plan to meet their expectations if you’re elected?

Andy Boden: What I hear all the time from the people of Sussex County is, “What exactly does a Sheriff do?” They are usually generally aware of the corrections aspect of the organization but have little knowledge of the many other functions. I believe there is much more that the Sheriff’s Department can do. My plan is to get out into the communities and ask them what they need and make every effort to assist them. 

In terms of intelligence-led policing, where does the Sheriff’s Office currently sit, and what measures would you take to keep up with technological advances in law enforcement?

“Intelligence-led policing” is a very important practice. I believe that we need vast improvements on how we approach this concept. We need solid information sharing between networking groups involving all the key stakeholders at the municipal, county, state and federal level. The only way to make this a reality is to get everyone involved with the practice and to be 100% committed to it. There are amazing advances in law enforcement technology on nearly a daily basis. It’s an exciting time and I would like to take full advantage of what becomes available, that is of course applicable. I would assemble a working group of the best and brightest from the law enforcement and civilian tech community and have them advise me on what becomes available and how it would benefit the residents of Sussex County. 

Community policing; what does it mean to you and how would you plan to deploy it evenly throughout Sussex County?

Community policing is a concept I believe in whole heartedly. One of the most positive changes in law enforcement over the last decade has been a return to this approach to policing. I would start with greater awareness of what the Sheriff’s Department has to offer the residents, increase officer training, and place a large focus on rehabilitation services in order to tackle the heroin epidemic plaguing our communities. Working with local representatives, I will get out into our communities and aid in crime prevention, safety, and drug and alcohol awareness. An often overlooked group in our communities is our seniors. I want to get out into our senior communities, and aid in the prevention of fraud, scams, and elderly abuse. I will be a partner to these people and agencies, by getting invested and involved. 

School safety is a major concern and widely debated. As Sheriff what position would you take to ensure Sussex County Schools are safe?

School safety is absolutely a major concern of mine, after all I’m not only an officer, I’m a father of four children. The only debate taking place regarding school safety, in my opinion, should be on to how to properly secure our schools to ensure we get the best results for our financial investment. I would like to see our Sheriff’s Officers out making school visits on a regular basis, as well as helping train school staff and students on how to properly react to a school safety incident. We have a tremendous amount of talent currently in our ranks and this is an area where I believe we can have a great impact.

Statistically the opioid crisis is increasing, and Sussex County is not excluded from these stats. How do you plan to combat this growing crisis if elected?

Reflecting back to my previous answer regarding community policing, I touched on this subject because I believe it has a major impact on our resident’s lives. No one is immune from this horrendous epidemic; rich, poor or middle class; it doesn’t matter. Sussex County is suffering greatly and something must be done. My plan would be to employ the ILP approach and combat it from an intelligence angle. I would encourage the development of confidential informants, increase drug recognition and interdiction training, and build a task force composed of local, state, and federal members. I would also look for any available grant money that could be used to not only combat the trafficking of heroin, but help in the rehabilitation efforts. One thing is for certain, incarcerating addicts does nothing unless it is coupled with a comprehensive drug rehab program.

Some Sussex County inmates have recently been shipped out to Morris County. Does this benefit the people of Sussex County and does this move run the risk of laying off officers?

I get this question quite often, and just as often, I am misquoted. I am in no way against shared services. One of my priorities is to ensure that the “Shared Services Agreement” currently being implemented and negotiated is done with complete transparency, in the best interests of the taxpayer, and to ensure that Sussex County’s ability to protect its residents and visitors is not diminished in any way. The benefit to Sussex County is yet to be clearly identified. I do support shared services and will work with the County Freeholders to ensure, if in fact there are to be additional transfers, they are done with every aspect of the service being considered. Again, if shared services are the best move for the county, then I would like to explore avenues which include possible repurposing of the correctional facility and its professionally trained staff who currently serve the County of Sussex with distinction.   

Thank you for sharing your insight with us and we wish you the best of luck in the upcoming Primary. 

BLUE Exclusive - Judge Jeanine Pirro

The BLUE Magazine: Judge, we always try to humanize our interviewees, so can you tell us a little about you? Who are you?

Judge Jeanine:  Who am I? I’m a girl from a small town in upstate New York who  was raised with values that I think reflect the values of America, who was taught to know the difference between right and wrong, who spent her life fighting for a level playing field for victims, and you know, I’m here to talk about them, so I’m still here.

What is something nobody knows about you?
I’ll never tell you. Seriously.

Some people do.
It’s like a confession?  Everybody knows I had pigs for 18 years. I love animals. I prosecuted animal cruelty for years.

How about this? when you go home, who are you?
Well, I used to be mom to two kids and now I’m mom to two standard poodles. You know, I’m like every other woman. I clean the house, I do the laundry, I cook, I go shopping. I’m at this stage in my life where now that my kids are grown and gone, that I enjoy life. I look for humor. I’m not in politics anymore. I ran for office five times, four for judge, and once for DA in Westchester County, and then I ran statewide for Attorney General, lost to now Governor Andrew Cuomo. The good news is politics isn’t an important part of my life anymore.

In your opinion, how has law enforcement been treated nationally the last couple of years?
Like shit. That’s a quote. Look, I worked with cops for 32 years. I was the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in a county of over a million people. I had 40 criminal investigators, I had task forces that I put together, I had an intel center where I had cops from NYPD and other federal agencies who worked in my office. It was one of the first intel centers in the country, and after 9/11, NYPD set up shop in my office because of what we had there. I love cops. It’s that simple. Have I prosecuted some? Yeah. When they cross the line, they need to be prosecuted like everybody else. But make no mistake, these are men and women who get up every day and put their lives on the line. They don’t know where they’re going, they don’t know who they’re going to come across.  They could be sitting in a car having lunch right before Christmas and some dirtbag comes up and shoots them. I could go on and on, and I don’t want to patronize you guys, but I’ll tell you, but for law enforcement, there would be no line between a civilized and a barbaric society, and anybody who doesn’t recognize that is just plain stupid.

And anybody who doesn’t respect cops is ignorant. I hate the rants. What do we want? Dead cops. When do we want them, now? That is fascist, communist, barbaric bullshit. People who do that need to live in a world where they don’t have police protection, where they don’t have people fighting for them, where they don’t have the ability to call 911 and get someone to respond.  I just don’t know what these people are thinking.  I don’t know where this country is going, and the hit on cops is an indication of the decline in our society. It is an indication that we no longer respect those in authority, whether it’s law enforcement, the military. You know what? Go on your own, get the paddleboat and live on your own. But there are rules, and they have to be followed. And there is only a certain caliber of person, a certain type of person, who’s willing to say, not only will I take low pay, not only will I separate myself from my family, go into one of the most stressful jobs in the world, but willing to put his or her life on the line for people they don’t even know, people who don’t even like them, people will criticize them and sue them in a minute. Shame on us. Shame on the direction that we’re going.

Black lives matter, legit?
Every life matters. All the rest is horseshit.

Who do you admire in law enforcement?
Commissioner Bernard Kerik for all he did for this country during the 9/11 attacks.

What do you make of some presidential candidates continually saying that there’s a systemic racism in law enforcement?
I think what’s happening in this country today is that there is a group of people who believe that they are victims and are disenfranchised, and our politicians, even at the highest level of government, are looking to ingratiate themselves, to appeal to that group. And, there is this common bond that they’re victims, or that they’re being ignored, when the truth is that in some ways if you look at South Chicago, I think victims are being ignored there. So far this year, 1,000 people in Chicago have already been shot. Those are real victims, as far as I’m concerned.  But, I think this tale that people are being targeted because of the color of their skin, that’s not my experience. That’s not what I did, and I’m no spring chicken. I was in law enforcement for 32 years, and I don’t believe it. I think cops do what they’re supposed to do.  If there are some that don’t, that doesn’t mean that a whole category of people are entitled to kill them, and chant for them to die, and kind of incentivize other mindless idiots to go shoot them.

What effect will electing Hillary or Bernie as President of the United States have on the current negative climate for police officers?
Hillary is pandering… I think that law enforcement will be defunded to the extent that they can defund law enforcement, as if law enforcement has enough resources now. They don’t. I think that there will be this cultural phenomenon where cops are seen as people who are the enemy. And, I think that it would be the worst thing for law enforcement. I think that law enforcement knows that. Law enforcement has always known that. Firefighters, law enforcement. You can give me some people, the tops of the unions will promote her or Bernie, but at the end of the day, they don’t believe in the second amendment, they don’t believe that cops are primarily good people, and I think that they’d be bad for the country.

Conservatives across the nation are waiting for you to enter the political arena again…
Who me? Not a chance… Here’s the thing, I was in politics for many years. I ran for judge and won, I was the first female judge. I ran for DA and won, and then won again, and then won again, first female DA, the first president of the state’s DA Association. I was the first woman to prosecute a murder case in the history of my county.   I started the first domestic violence unit in the nation. I’ve done a lot in the public arena as it relates to politics, but for me, politics was the means to do the job that I wanted to do. It wasn’t something for me to get to the next level. To be DA, you had to run. To be a judge, you had to run. Soon as I became a judge, I said this is a little slow for me, so I gave up my robes long before my term ended to run for DA. I’m a fighter. I’m an activist. I am someone who, you know, when I see a playing field that’s not level, I want to level it, whether it’s for women, or children, or the elderly. I fought for a hate crimes law in New York. I went to John Cardinal O’Connor, we were working on a bill to cover everybody, and to get the Catholic Church behind it. I believe in justice. That’s who I am, that’s what I stand for. I have passion for the victims, and I’m furious with criminals. I think the criminal justice system is all screwed up. I think the fact that we call it the criminal justice system as opposed to the victim’s justice system is a mistake. It’s the victim who pays the price. The criminal gets all the rights. That fight for me is over. I’ve done it. I’ve done everything I could. I’ve tried murders, rapes, violent felonies. I started one of the first, if not the first, Internet pedophile sting operation in the nation with 100% conviction rate, first domestic violence unit in the nation that was a model for the rest of the country. I was a fighter. I will not use or go into politics to do what my passion is because I’ve already done it.

What’s your opinion on electing judges, rather than appointing them? which do you prefer?
There was a time when I said electing versus appointed. I really still go with the election thing. Both of them have their negatives. When they’re appointed, it’s a political inside game and anyone who doesn’t see that is stupid. When they’re elected, it may be just a function of the inside game that they play to get on the ballot in a county where that party is favored. But, what I do believe is that judges should have to face the public. I think hiding behind the robes is a mistake.

You have defeated the odds numerous times in male dominated careers, what is the best advice you can give to young women who intend to do the same?
It’s the same advice I gave to my daughter. She’s a lawyer in Manhattan, smarter than I was. She’s making money. I was in government. And that is, always have a sense of humor. Don’t have a chip on your shoulder. Be smarter and better prepared, than everyone, and always make sure you have enough under-eye concealer for those nights when you stayed up all night.

How long does it take you to prepare for your show?
My opening is what I’m most passionate about. It depends how angry I am. Some- times about eight hours, because I only have a couple of minutes and every word has to matter. If I make an argument, it’s the lawyer, the prosecutor, the judge. I need the evidence to back it up. I come out with my opinion and then I back it up with the facts. Now, I can write an open that’s done on Fri- day and Saturday, I’ll see something, I’ll be furious, scrap that one and write a new one in an hour-and-a-half, two hours. But, it reflects my passion, it reflects my quest for justice. Whether you’re in law enforcement, politics, or television, to me it’s about the level playing field, and if I see politicians lie, it infuriates me. It infuriates me when they say, ‘Oh no, this is what I said. This is what I’m going to do,’ and they do just the opposite. They speak out of both sides of their mouth. No one calls them on it. It reminds me of Rudy Giuliani. Many years ago, when he called out a judge and it was a domestic violence case, and it was this huge push back.  Everybody said, ‘You can’t criticize judges,’ and Rudy criticized the judge be- cause the judge bailed some domestic violence abuser who then went out and killed the woman. This was a long time ago, and I remember saying to myself, there’s a cultural shift right now, I’m seeing it. And of course, I jumped on it, cause I think, I don’t know whether I was the DA or Assistant DA, I said, yeah, right, they’re not beyond criticism. Neither is the president, neither is the politician. This is America. Every one of us is equal and every one of us has a vote. We’re equal in terms of votes, we’re equal in terms of victims, equal in terms of justice. And anyone who says my life matters more than yours, or this life, that’s all hogwash.

You ever have any fears with calling out the President?
Are you kidding?  I’ve been prosecuting, arresting, indicting, convicting, sentencing dirtbags for 30 years. He can wait in line with Robert Durst and all the rest of them. If you don’t have the courage to do your job and do it in a way that reflects your moral core, then don’t do it. Quit.

You ever make a mistake and then say I shouldn’t have said that?
Look, here’s the thing, I say what I think. I’m not here to say what everybody else thinks or put my finger up to the political winds. I’m here to talk about what I believe in. I believe in law enforcement. I believe in justice, and I believe in the first amendment, the second amendment. I got loads of guns. Nobody’s going to take them away from me. Nobody’s going to tell me what I can and can’t do.  Nobody’s going to tell me we’re safer without guns. Don’t tell me that taking away people’s guns is the answer to our problems.  It isn’t.  Imagine you’re in Boston, the Boston bombers have just hit. City’s on lockdown, martial law, I think that there’s a burglar in back of my house, I call 911, no one’s coming because everybody is out looking for Dzhokar Tsarnaev. But, what if my 911 call is about Dzhokar in my backyard in a boat. If I’m not going to have a gun, who’s coming to save me?

They know this, Judge. They’re just saying what the mass wants to hear when it comes to being a liberal.
No, no, no. They don’t know it. They just know that they have bodyguards and they don’t have to defend themselves. Why say it for the masses? Look at what’s happening to all of these victims that are being shot and killed. You don’t think they’d like to defend themselves?

Who’s going to be our next president?
I don’t know.

No clue?
I think Barack Obama’s tried to change the demographics of this nation, and I think he has, whether they’re coming in from Mexico, or whether he’s flying them in from Central America, or whether he’s bringing them from other countries quietly. I think that we’ve got real problems in this country, where  you don’t  have  to  have  an  ID. There’s something called Voter Registration in some states where you can actually register to vote, and vote in the same day. I’m telling you, dead people are going to vote three and four times this year. And it’s a sad commentary that this nation’s changed, and that’s their agenda.

One word to describe Bill deBlasio?
Blowhard… Maybe that’s too nice.

Will he win again?
It scares me. People vote party… Look, I ran in a Democratic county. I was a Repub- lican, Conservative, Independent. I won. But there are some people who will not cross the line, and I fear that New York City, sanctuary cities, I think that they’re going to vote for him. I think that people don’t care if you’re legal or illegal.

If Trump or another Republican was to get elected  into  the white House, do you think  it’ll be beneficial for the party as a whole or do you think we’ll still have a lot of dissension between parties when we try to think about bipartisan politics?
I think the country is in a mess. Would I prefer a Republican to Hilary Clinton or a Socialist? You betcha. But, I don’t know if this divide will ever end. I’m telling you this, based  on  the  direction  we’ve  been  going with Barack Obama, this negative stereo- typing of cops and creating this sense that you  didn’t  build  it,  and  all  of  that  other crazy, Socialist stuff, if this country doesn’t make a right turn, literally and figuratively, we’re in trouble, deep trouble.

There was a 1996 case that you were involved in, the Campbell case, and an NyPD officer, and he’s still ‘til this day…
Yeah. He was convicted by a jury. The Appellate Courts affirmed the conviction. The highest courts affirmed it. Then he took it federal. I don’t care what color you are or who you work for, what you do, if you kill somebody, then as far as I’m concerned, I’m going to take it to the Grand Jury, and if they indict you, I’m going to take it to trial. Let me tell you something, I don’t apologize for doing my job to anyone, to any group, and I don’t protect people who think that they need additional cover.  I’ve worked with a lot of cops. The cops that I worked with loved me. We made great cases. It’s who we were and what we did. And, you come out of line, and you come at some guy, you got lawyers, you’ve got the best lawyers around.

Was everybody on the jury wrong? Was the evidence wrong? Were the witnesses lying? Are the judges on the take? The judges on the highest court on the take? The federal judges on the take?

Did you find it difficult to separate yourself, not from that case in particular, but being with the police and being their adversary?
No, no, because if I prosecuted a cop, it was because he or she crossed the line. I think the toughest jobs are when the cops arrive on a scene and if they shoot someone that they are intending to target.  That’s the toughest job in the world. I was at the National Law Enforcement Foundation in Washington and they put a laser gun on me and they described a scenario. I shot everybody. They said, who do you arrest, who do you call out. I got a guy with a knife, I can’t tell what he’s doing. Then, I got a guy holding a baby, and a woman. It’s a tough job.

Favorite Baseball Team?
Yankees.

Pet Peeve?
People lying.

Strength?
I stand up for what I believe.

Weakness?
Chocolate… Dark chocolate.

Are you in a relationship?
No, single. Divorced.

What do you look for in a man?
A sense of humor. Someone whose got courage, someone who’s not intimidated by me, someone who doesn’t have to compete with me, and someone who likes Standard Poodles.

Any last words? any words of encouragement toward our profession as we move forward?
I’ve worked with hundreds of cops. I also admire the cop who doesn’t need attention, who avoids the limelight, who believes that he or she works for God. The cop who is true to his uniform and true to the constitution. There’s no one who is better than another. I admire cops, I admire the institution. I think it’s the unsung cop who deserves the attention, the one who either walks the beat, investigates a crime, is sensitive to victims.

I think that cops need to know that the vast majority respects them, holds them in high esteem. It’s the blabbermouth people who have a grudge, angry, the Occupy Wall Street Group, the really leftist groups. Honestly, I think if they don’t like cops, they should live in a community without them. And, I think that cops need to realize that there’s tremendous support for them. People are not stupid. The public gets it. The big mouths know how to access the press and the media, and therefore, cops are thinking, and not just thinking, they’re getting shot, they know they’re vulnerable.  But they need to know that there’s support for them.

Check out Judge Jeanine’s latest book, “He Killed Them All” available at bookstores and online retailers.

(This article is a reprint from the May 2016 Edition of The BLUE Magazine/NJ BLUE Now)

Editor’s Point of View

George Beck, Ph.D.
Editor-In-Chief

Spring is finally here! After a long, and at times, freezing winter, the rebirth of spring is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy the nice weather with family and friends. Our profession requires us to be in a sense on duty around the clock, but commit to detach mentally from the job and experience the wonderments of life with those who love and genuinely care for you. You deserve the break. You deserve to enjoy it. So make sure you prioritize who’s important in your life and spend quality time with them. They and you will be glad you did.

Our cover story “Leaders Help Wanted” written by Chief Joel Gordon (Ret.) is an open and honest assessment of law enforcement leadership today. The article highlights several law enforcement leaders with weak leadership ability, followed by several leaders with excellent leadership ability. It then provides the necessary context to demonstrate how effective leaders lead their officers in our modern times. Chief Gordon’s approach is not to bash ineffective leaders, rather to show the harmful effects of their poor leadership and how desperately some agencies in our country need to hang up the “Help Wanted Leadership” sign.

The stakes are too high for weak, feckless and incompetent leaders. Many times the right person for the lead role is not chosen, because of political interference or nepotism, or other reasons, and therefore the agency suffers. When a department is led with poor leadership, certain personality traits are almost universal. These failed leaders are typically frightened and threatened easily—sometimes paranoid—and believe that ruling through fear and with an iron fist will have their officers following them. In the short run, these leaders are effective, but in the long term, they will always meet someone unafraid of them and will expose them for the cowards they are. Time has a way of bringing down these imposters who destroy lives and careers. What’s that saying: “What goes around comes around?”

I have another observation on this leadership angle. As editor-in-chief of Blue Magazine, I’ve noticed that many officers without rank often have a tremendous amount of wisdom. Our leaders—the ones with the big desks and titles—should take notice of their vision and judgment. Know your subordinates and play to their strengths. A title itself doesn’t come with knowledge and ability. Real leaders can lead those who know more than they do.

There are plenty of great law enforcement leaders in our country who are leading their officers and communities with honesty, integrity, vision, and compassion. To these excellent leaders, keep leading your men and women to have productive, safe, and healthy careers while offering the best policing services to the communities you serve. Your officers are blessed to be working for you. We at Blue Magazine tip our hats to you. We appreciate your work and hope more leaders will aspire to reach your level of success.

As we move ahead in 2019, we have a tremendous amount of new and creative ideas flowing at Blue Magazine. Over the years we have assembled the brightest minds on the local and national law enforcement scene. Our writers are fearless. Their abilities to think at deeper levels with solid logical arguments continue to impress me. I thank all of them for their commitment and hard work for our profession. Together we are advancing the dialogues and pushing back against false narratives to keep officers safe and alive.

Cover Story - LEADERSHIP – “Help Wanted”

LEADERSHIP – “Help Wanted”
By: Joel E. Gordon

"The ability to learn is the most important quality a leader can have. Leadership is about inspiring and enabling others to do their absolute best together to realize a meaningful and rewarding shared purpose.” - Leonard Hamm Former Baltimore Police Commissioner and Author of the Hamm Rules on Relationships, Leadership, Love and Community.

Imagine working for a police chief who thinks it’s “demeaning” to suspects to have them sit on the ground or sidewalk at a crime scene—whether handcuffed or not. If you work in San Francisco, Chief William Scott has determined that your safety and tactical advantage over a suspect is less important than how a criminal may feel. Everybody knows, especially when you have multiple suspects, having them sit down will give you that time to react should they get up and attack. In other words, in San Francisco, the criminal’s feelings are more important than the officer’s safety—a clear sign of failed leadership.

How would you have liked to have been working for Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel and his appointed captain, Jan Jordan, who “took charge” of the scene during the Parkland Florida school shooting and who ordered officers to stage, clearly in violation of their response plan? The sheriff has been replaced and the captain has since resigned. In addition to the fourteen students and three staff members killed the day of the shooting, most recently two former students have tragically killed themselves out of survivor’s guilt in separate incidents.

Or picture working for the chief of the police force in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Chris Blue, who ordered officers to stand down as protesters toppled a Confederate monument at the University of North Carolina. “Let’s give them space,” Police Chief Blue reportedly texted on the night of Aug. 20 as protesters gathered around the statue known as “Silent Sam,” representing a Confederate soldier. Later he wrote, “…do not engage with Crowd at statue. Stay way out.” Riot, disorder, criminal activity is apparently OK in the chief’s eyes, so what’s that say about the officers? They are as expendable as the laws to be upheld.

Now picture working for Phoenix Arizona Police Chief Jeri Williams. The local police union publicly aired an attack against her for what they say is a failure to stand by her officers over a domestic violence incident in which a man claimed an officer used excessive force against his daughter. The officer’s body camera footage ultimately invalidated the claim, and union representatives pressed Williams to seek charges against the man for making a false report. Williams declined, arguing that it would cause a chilling effect among those who want to file a complaint against an officer. “The Chief’s response to us was not that of a leader, but rather a politician,” Phoenix Law Enforcement Association President Ken Crane wrote. Whose side is the chief on? Apparently not the law or her officers.

Or imagine working for Chief Daniel Paez, a 23-year veteran of the Perrysburg, Ohio, Police Department, who has been publicly accused of dereliction of duty for instructing his officers to stand down during a pursuit and shootout when Paez told his officers with more than 60 years’ combined experience, to back off. Paez said he decided because he was not sure the officers were experienced enough to handle it. I suppose the chief was going to call the police?

Over and over, these kinds of feckless leaders rise to the top in law enforcement. And the list goes on and on. There is no shortage of ineffective leaders in law enforcement. Political hack law enforcement leaders who do not back their officers and who are easily manipulated into bowing to politically motivated pressures are detrimental to our profession and cause others to perform in a less-than-optimal manner. A true leader makes every effort to shield their team from under-informed and counterproductive political influences.

But not every law enforcement leader is a gutless, floundering fish out of water.

Take, for example, now-retired Dallas, Texas, Police Chief David Brown, who stood up for police officers nationwide by saying that law enforcement officers across the country are being asked to take on too much. As the Dallas police worked to go through massive amounts of evidence from the shooting that killed five officers, Chief Brown said he believed officers in his city and nationwide were under too much strain. “We’re asking cops to do too much in this country,” Brown said. “Every societal failure, we put it off on the cops to solve. Not enough mental health funding, let the cops handle it. …Here in Dallas we got a loose dog problem; let’s have the cops chase loose dogs. Schools fail; let’s give it to the cops. …That’s too much to ask. Policing was never meant to solve all those problems.”

Speaking truth at a candlelight vigil for fallen cop Michael Chesna, who had succumbed to injuries sustained from a large rock thrown at his head, Weymouth Massachusetts Chief of Police Richard Grimes slammed the country’s knee-jerk negative attitude surrounding police use of force. “Hesitation gets officers harmed,” Grimes said. He asked the crowd to consider how they would react if threatened and given a split second to respond. Grimes said officers need to feel comfortable using their weapons and criticized the public’s emphasis on shooting deaths of unarmed people. “I can tell you that isn’t just the gun. Is it a rifle? Is it a knife? Could it be a crowbar?” Grimes asked. “Or maybe just a rock,” Grimes asked people to respect and support the police. “What happened to Michael was horrific,” he said. “It should not happen to someone else.”

If you haven’t had your head buried in the sand for the past six years, you know that Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke (now retired) has been consistent as a leader who stands up for law enforcement irrespective of political pressure of political correctness. In the wake of the Ferguson riots, Sheriff Clarke was the dominant leader who pushed back against the false narratives and cop haters. Many officers across the country wished there were more law enforcement leaders like Clarke who dared to take a personal risk and stand up for our profession. However, during this period, it seemed that many law enforcement leaders were eager to throw good officers under the bus for self-gain or to appease angry mobs.

When Baltimore, Maryland, recently had the help wanted sign out in search of a new leader, they ultimately chose Michael Harrison, the New Orleans police chief. Upon his arrival in the city of Baltimore, he said this on leadership: “Number one, I want to hear from the citizens. I want to hear from the officers… I want to hear what their concerns are. I want to hear what their needs are. I will advocate all the resources they need to be successful, and then work on building bridges and building inroads, building relationships that were never built, improving good ones and repairing the bad ones, doing that and hitting the ground on the very first day.”

Of course, actions and not just words are where true leaders shine.

Leaders must find the often-difficult balance in satisfying the needs of their department’s internal customers and the needs of the external customers in the communities served all while weighing the validity of the wants of the politicians that they must deal with and are accountable to.

While leaders are about “we” the team, bosses masquerading as leaders are only about “I” or themselves first. The political hacks and the men and women who serve them know it, even if they smile and buy them a cup of coffee, or eagerly ask them how their lunch or weekend was.

Fortunately, police leadership styles are gradually changing, moving from the authoritative style that has historically dominated law enforcement to a more inclusive approach that seeks to enable and empower rather than merely command. While there can be differences in leadership to accommodate the individuals involved, the best leaders:

• Set an example of honesty and integrity along with a stellar work ethic and attitude.

• Give positive reinforcement & recognition

• Praise in public… Criticize in private.

• Set clear expectations.

• Allow a proper level of staff autonomy and do not micromanage.

• Trust but verify.

• Identify staff strengths and weaknesses and delegate tasks to individual strengths and interests, giving each team member leadership responsibility. This while working toward increasing abilities in areas needing improvement. In this way, leaders identify and prepare the next generation of leaders worthy of promotion.

My own best shift commander during my career, Baltimore City Police Lt. Victor Kessler, was a leader whom you knew had your back when you did the right thing with reasonable actions that could be articulated and honestly justified. He was a man who recognized the truth that leaders exist within all ranks, as he acknowledged during his retirement speech to our shift in his way: “The bosses come and go ... What matters are you guys and gals who make the decisions on the street. Stick together, look out for one another, and work as a team. You are the ones who really matter and make all the difference.”

With a clear vision and a consistent and steady hand, true leaders accomplish their goals and team mission while inspiring others in positive and fulfilling ways. The “HELP WANTED” sign is out. The best of the leaders are needed now and for all of our tomorrows.

Joel E. Gordon is a former Baltimore City Police Officer and was Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has served as vice-chair of a regional narcotics task force and is a candidate for Preston County West Virginia Sheriff. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer’s Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. stillseekingjustice.com

Around Florida - Dusting Off an Old Program to Help Fight the New Plague Ravaging America

Dusting Off an Old Program to Help Fight the New Plague Ravaging America
By Chief Rich Rosell

The Plague
Make no mistake; the opioid crisis has hit America like a tsunami.  Unlike a tsunami, the waters do not appear to be receding.  In a recent Op Ed article written for Fox News, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich claimed that every day, 134 Americans die of addiction. Everyone in America has an obligation to stop the wholesale slaughter of our youth.  Not even in our most recent wars have youth lost their lives at such an alarming rate.

Police officers wield quite a bit of power and discretion, sometimes more than they realize.  Constant pressure on drug dealers is certain to have an impact on this problem, but experienced leaders will testify that arresting addicts is not the answer to stopping addiction deaths.  Identifying and placing them in proper treatment is the preferred and accepted method. 

Tool in the Tool Bag
Enter the Drug Impairment for Educational Professionals (DITEP) program. DITEP is derived from the national Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) program and is a sister program to the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program.  The proponents are the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA).  DITEP is not an enforcement tool. Rather it is (strictly) an educational asset, which is designed to get students suffering from addiction or otherwise abusing drugs the help that they need.  Law enforcement officers see this training as an additional tool for school personnel to employ as they wish as an early warning system for at-risk students.  The training will first provide all school personnel, to include teachers, counselors, custodians, coaches, nurses, administrators, school resource officers and other staff with the ability to conduct a quick assessment of behavior and symptoms commonly associated with drug abuse and make a non-accusatory referral to the school nurse.  Once the student is with the nurse, she/he will look for certain indicators to determine if the student is under the influence of a drug.  If it is determined that there is impairment, the nurse will determine whether the impairment is due to a medical problem or is drug-related. If the impairment is drug-related, the nurse will utilize proven diagnostic procedures taught in the DITEP course to determine what category or categories of drugs are likely causing the observed impairment.  The nurse can then take appropriate steps to get help for the student. 

By providing training to school officials and health care professionals, DITEP enables schools to employ an aggressive evaluation and detection program that could cause drug usage in schools to decline. Consequently, not only will the disruption caused by those abusing drugs be decreased, but also the incidence of those individuals driving to and from schools while impaired by either alcohol or drugs will also be greatly reduced, making our communities and schools a safer place for all.[1]  If employment of the tools learned in a DITEP course saved just one life, it would clearly be worth the time spent in the course. 

There is a clear connection between drug use in schools and school shootings.  Statistics show that most school shooting suspects were either under the influence of some type of substance during the time of the shooting or were active drug abusers leading up to the event.

Practical Application
In Florida, along the Treasure Coast, which encompasses the counties of Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee, the Treasure Coast Opioid Task Force has been convened.  This task force is comprised of public and private partners with a common goal: Get out ahead of the curve on the opioid crisis.  As a member of the Law Enforcement Subcommittee on this Task Force, and President of the Treasure Coast Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Association, recognizing that the police can contribute more than just arrest statistics, I reached deep into my tool bag and pulled out DITEP.  On May 29, through a cooperative agreement with the Indian River County School District, I will present our first DITEP course.  Word of this initiative has reached the state level, and we have interest from various regulatory agencies wishing to receive this training.  While the goals of the Treasure Coast Opioid Task Force remain my responsibility, I have a moral obligation to share what I know with all jurisdictions.

Summary
We must never give up on our youth, no matter how far off course they stray.  To do so would grossly violate the very oath we all took.  DITEP has been around for decades and is one of those programs that tend to be lost when the subject matter experts retire or are promoted and have not taken the time to pass along the historical information that took them a lifetime to accrue.   It provides a simple mechanism to supplement our community involvement initiatives and further humanize the police to the public.  Unlike many of our skills, this does not involve placing anyone under arrest; rather it is strictly educational in nature. As one of the many resources we have at our disposal, it will help ebb the tide of the tsunami. 

Chief Rich Rosell Bio
Chief Rosell is currently the Police Chief and Public Safety Director for the Town of Indian River Shores, Florida, the former Director of Public Safety for the Town of Dover, NJ and Township of Springfield, NJ, and a 27-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police, retiring at the rank of Captain.  He has a very diverse skill set with vast operational, training, policymaking, homeland security, leadership, management and administrative experience.

Chief Rosell has years of experience teaching at the graduate level for Seton Hall University and Fairleigh Dickinson University, as well as extensive police and military training experience.    

Chief Rosell has a bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State University in Human Services, a Master’s Degree from Seton Hall University in Human Resources Training and Development, a Master’s Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Homeland Defense and Security Studies and has thus far earned eighteen credits at Drew University’s Doctor of Letters program.