Jersey City Police about to embarrass the city once again

About a dozen more Jersey City police officers, with one already busted, are expected to be behind bars as early as next month in a federal investigation over no-show stand-around construction site jobs. The officers in question weren't sharing their take from the construction companies with the city of Jersey City who not only allows, one might say at this point encourage the wasting of police officers to standing around construction sites since they get a cut. Remember when Councilman Steve Fulop railed against cops doing these stand around jobs and part of his mayoral platform was actually correcting this problem? But, once Fulop became Mayor and the PD fell under his purview and realized money was being made no matter how shadily, he hasn't made a peep about it since. Even now it's his spokesperson.

This has long been one of Johnny's pet-peeves. These cops do nothing but stand around all day talking with workers, smoking cigarettes or even cigars with workers, and hitting the food trucks. Don't expect to see them always standing around the work sites though (if they even show up), much of the time they retire to their vehicles and sometimes catch a few Zzzzzzz's. Johnny has documented the sleeping problem again and again.

So, on goes the federal investigation, sure to make national news and embarrass the city further, and Mayor Fulop's office, knowing he's approved of these stand around jobs now that he's mayor, is actually, lamely, trying to get out front of this (more like getting out behind on this) through his spokeswoman, the venerable Jennifer Morrill:

"Over the last three years this administration has initiated and worked with federal authorities in several investigations to root out corruption by long term city employees," Morrill said. "We have a zero tolerance policy and employees should be aware that if they break the law they will be held accountable."

Fulop's people seem perfectly fine with unaccountable rogue cops (excused drunk driving for JCPD officers anyone?) until it blows up on his administration. By being expected to provide files and time-sheets and interviews with certain cops and supervisors, the city isn't leading the investigation on this, they are cooperating. Johnny's a professional media analyst, he's been sought out and hired by some of the largest companies on the globe, when he says Jersey City is merely supplying the Feds with what they want, believe it. He speaks press release and spokesperson. If Jersey City was leading the investigation U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman wouldn't be the one behind the microphones on this since last October.

So, the Jersey City police force is ready to embarrass the city yet again as they have done to mayors before. Who could forget the ridiculous steroid abuse scandal during the Healy administration that got national play. The JCPD lets this city down far more often than should be allowed without major changes. If, like Mayor Fulop says, Jersey City is to become the best mid-sized city in America we're going to need an A+ police force, not C- force we have standing around cheating taxpayers.

If you'd like the Ward B council seat, and you'll do whatever the mayor says, here you go

With disgraced and slapped-down on Twitter Chico Ramchal's Ward B seat up for anyone of voting age living in Ward B AND willing to pretty blindly do whatever Mayor Steve Fulop says since he appoints the replacement until the next election to fill the seat had better act fast. If you want to be considered send a cover letter and resume to wardbcouncil@jcnj.org. Probably a no-show job or a selfish DWI might not be the kinds of things you'll want to highlight.

If you can nod your head up and down and say "yes" you should probably send a resume. Seriously.

While we're on the topic of disappointing city officials...

...Khemraj "Chico" Ramchal must go as a City Councilman.

Many of you know, as it has been brought up a few times here, Johnny was the victim of a drunk driver at age 17. Run down from behind on a bike by a drunk. He does not suffer DUI drivers easily. The fact Mr. Ramchal is currently going through the court system for his own DUI accident (with a taxpayer funded vehicle) is NOT why Johnny thinks Mr. Ramchal should step away from his city council job. Johnny understands we all do make mistakes, however distasteful the acts (sans murder, rape etc) and people should have a chance to make amends and still be active in the community as long as they learn from their offenses. Councilman Ramchal will have his days in court and we hope he gets no special favors but again, this is not why Johnny thinks he needs to go.

A couple days ago we found out Ramchal was fired from his alleged NO-SHOW job. NO-SHOW. You're a city counsellor in the second largest city in New Jersey and you're sitting on council getting paid $49,923 to not work at your other job. That is beyond the pale for a city employee. You vote on contracts, you vote on city business dealings all while, let's call it what it is, stealing from taxpayers. That's just no good. You are part of the problem, a sleazy problem at that for no-show work. it would seem according to this story from our good friend Terrence T. McDonald you also LIED on your city time sheets:

The HCIA began its investigation of Ramchal on April 8, after The Jersey Journal made inquiries into why GPS records from the car the councilman had been driving showed him driving around Jersey City when the timesheets Ramchal submitted to the HCIA indicated he was working. Ramchal had been suspended with pay as the agency investigated the newspaper's claims.

Yeah, you gotta go councilman. We also understand you have a lot of support in your ward and a lot of those people want you to stay. That'd be fine if you only voted on Ward B business but you don't do you? No, you vote on ALL city business and Johnny simply does not want someone this dishonest voting on issues that affect HIS ward.

The DUI Mr. Ramchal is a personal failing, the no-show job and faked timesheets are another matter that show your contempt for Jersey City taxpayers and residents and for that you need to step down or be recalled.