Statement by Colonel Patrick J. Callahan
Recent media reports have stated that Joanne Chesimard is being praised as a source of inspiration in an attempt to drive a wedge between law enforcement and the communities we serve. Joanne Chesimard was convicted of the murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and has spent the majority of her life as a fugitive after escaping from prison in 1979.
(photo taken in Ridgewood NJ)
There are few people as undeserving of praise as Chesimard, who has achieved a folk hero status to a fringe group of radicals that has created a false narrative based on conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated evidence. This murderer and fugitive remains on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist list.
New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster
I owe it to the Foerster family and to all of the men and women who have ever worn the uniform as a New Jersey State Trooper to speak clearly and unequivocally regarding the truth about Chesimard. She is not an inspirational figure. She is a convicted murderer that participated in the execution of Trooper Werner Foerster. We will never cease in our efforts to have her serve the remainder of her sentence in a New Jersey prison.
The members of the New Jersey State Police will continue to meet with community partners and organizations that are genuinely committed to partnering with law enforcement to engage in meaningful dialogue surrounding police transparency and accountability. The men and women of the New Jersey State Police remain committed to holding our members to the highest standards.
I know we’re all supposed to be BLM and all that right now, but if this piece of excrement that the leftists love gets any kind of favorable treatment, there’s going to be a lot of pushback.
Hard to believe we can’t send someone down there to take her out.
Who is funding her 40+ year “holiday” ?
All I can say is all lives matter and the story. Thank you very much have a good night