'Protecting the Shield' forum: Getting bad cops off the streets

NEPTUNE - The Asbury Park Press' "Protecting the Shield" reporting team spent two years uncovering millions of taxpayer dollars paid in secret settlements of alleged police misconduct claims throughout the state.

Now it's time to do something about it.

Asbury Park Press editors and reporters along with several state and community leaders led a forum Monday night at the Press to respond to concerns raised by the series. Here are five things you need to know:

1. Legal reforms

Two legislators said they would push for police oversight reform in the wake of the investigation, which shed light on officer misconduct across the state.

Deputy Assembly Speaker Gordon M. Johnson, D-Bergen, and Sen. Declan O'Scanlon Jr., R-Monmouth, both agreed that changes were needed to provide a more uniform, objective review of misconduct allegations.

"Bad cops are the enemies of good cops," O'Scanlon said.

He added that lawmakers were "looking at a series of checks and balances on internal affairs incidents." Police internal affairs units are the cops who investigate other cops — too often poorly.

More: Protecting the Shield: What you need to know about APP's investigation into police misconduct

2. Breaking through silence

O'Scanlon said cultural changes would be needed to empower good officers to speak up when they see instances of misconduct without fear of retaliation.

Johnson said reform is needed at all levels of police departments, including senior leadership. "There are some bad police chiefs. It's not just the women and men on the streets but it’s the administrative area we have to look at in some cases."

More: Philip Seidle, killer cop: Ex-wife 'did not become a victim until I killed her'

3. Millions spent on bad cops

The forum Monday evening was moderated by APP Investigations Editor Paul D'Ambrosio. You can view a video of the complete forum above this story.

"There are 33,000 officers in New Jersey who perform admirably and even heroically each and every day. The series examined the small minority of cops who shouldn't be on the street," D'Ambrosio said.

The two-year investigation revealed that New Jersey governments across the state have paid at least $42 million this decade to settle cases of alleged officer misconduct.

4. Injuries, sexual misconduct and deaths caused by bad cops

The Press also found settlements involving police abuse allegations involving 19 deaths, 131 bodily injuries, seven cases of sexual misconduct and dozens of other abuse issues.

Panelists at the forum Monday evening included O'Scanlon, Johnson, attorney Stanley O. King and APP project reporters Susanne Cervenka, Kala Kachmar and Andrew Ford. APP reporters Ken Serrano and Alex Gecan, also on the "Shield" team, also posed questions to panelists.

5. Problems with internal affairs

King said the internal affairs process was often problematic because it charges officers on small police forces with investigating incidents that involve colleagues they know closely or with whom they have longstanding relationships.

"There's a blue wall of silence," said King. "All of these good cops. They never tell on that 0.1 percent. It's a burdensome task to put on anyone," King said.

Cervenka noted that the Press frequently spotlights police officers who are upstanding members of the community. "We've written frequently about police officers who do extraordinary jobs," said Cervenka. "We also can't ignore problems."

Austin Bogues 732-643-4009.