The New Jersey police chiefs' association warned about violence against officers who dare to break the blue wall of police silence, saying in a legal filing those cops "are often labeled by their peers as a 'rat' or 'snitch' and subject to harsh reprisals."

The New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police filed a legal brief urging a judge to hide the internal affairs records of killer cop Philip Seidle, arguing that their release would jeopardize officers who dare to report misconduct. Their brief is posted below.

The association joined Neptune Township, which asked Superior Court Assignment Judge Lisa P. Thornton to reconsider her decision earlier this month to release the IA records of former Neptune Township Police Sgt. Seidle in response to a lawsuit by the Asbury Park Press.

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Special series:PROTECTING THE SHIELD

The chiefs' association warned of a "prevalent" code of police silence nationwide. They pointed to findings by a New York City commission in which "the blue wall of silence was being enforced by a majority of officers through intimidation and often harsh means." They cited the example of a "stern disciplinarian" police captain in New York City who suffered payback. His locker was burned, his car tires were slashed and he received threats of injury.

The blue wall of silence isn't as common as people think it is, according to Raymond Hayducka, a spokesperson for the chiefs' association. Hayducka said there isn't a blue wall of silence in South Brunswick, where he is police chief.

“I don’t believe it’s this phenomenon that people believe it is, but I just can’t give you an accurate count when it does occur," Hayducka said.

Hayducka said internal affairs records should be kept secret.

“The reality is that it’s an uncomfortable position to be in — when you do have to give a statement against somebody else," he said. "I’m sure no officer wants to be put in that position, so we don’t want to compound it by having that in-depth report on the internet.”

The president of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association, the labor union for police officers, didn't respond to requests for comment.

Judge Thornton addressed concerns about protecting police officers by requiring redactions to the Seidle documents.

"Any harm can be mitigated by redacting information that could reveal the identities of witnesses or complainants," the judge wrote in her opinion. "With appropriate redactions, the public’s interest in confidentiality does not outweigh the public’s interest in disclosure."

Seidle, 54, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter after fatally shooting his 51-year-old ex-wife, Tamara Wilson-Seidle. The Asbury Park Press detailed a history of trouble between the Seidles known to law enforcement authorities before the June 2015 shooting.

Seidle is now serving a 30-year prison sentence.

Andrew Ford: @AndrewFordNews; 732-685-4634; aford3@gannettnj.com