Friday, March 20, 2015

JCPD is sued; claims of retaliation over support for the mayor come to the fore

When Mayor Fulop shockingly demoted his choice to lead the Jersey City Police Department after a year, Fulop claimed it was because Chief Robert Cowan has created a toxic workplace and the city had far too many lawsuits under of his leadership.

Make that one more lawsuit, only this one is from police Lt. David Goldrich who says the new chief, Philip Zacche is doing exactly what the mayor claims Cowan was doing AND claims support of the mayor and his policies is of the utmost importance:

Yesterday, The Jersey Journal reported on a separate lawsuit filed by a current police lieutenant and a retired captain who are allies of Cowan and allege Zacche warned them after he replaced Cowan as chief that they had the "bubba stink."

Fulop, Zacche, Connors, Public Safety Director James Shea and Business Administrator Robert Kakoleski are all named as defendants in the suit. Goldrich alleges they violated his federal and state constitutional rights. He is seeking more than $100,000 in damages.

Jennifer Morrill who is usually not at a loss for words on the city's behalf had nothing to say when asked. Just the boilerplate "we don't talk about lawsuits against us."

Goldrich says he did donate $1200 to Fulop's campaign yet decided against further support after Fulop drop kicked Cowman so shockingly down the ranks. He says that's when the trouble started.

There's a lot to read here and a lot to think about. The Jersey City Police have been a mess under Mayor Fulop's time in office. No continuity, no follow through on certain police issues he said he's tackle, and now this. A mess of his own making it would seem.

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