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NJ Attorney General: First Amendment does not relieve schools of their obligation to respond to bias-based harassment that creates a hostile educational environment

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood  NJ, attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Sundeep Iyer, Director of the Division on Civil Rights, have issued the statement below as students across the state in K-12 schools and on college and university campuses return to school:

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Legal Action Against Wyckoff School District: Family Sues Over Distribution of Explicit Image

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Wyckoff NJ, the mother of a former eighth grader at Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School in Wyckoff has filed a lawsuit against the district, alleging that her daughter’s privacy was violated when a pornographic image of her was circulated by fellow students. The incident, which occurred in March 2021, has prompted legal action against the school district and several key individuals.

Continue reading Legal Action Against Wyckoff School District: Family Sues Over Distribution of Explicit Image

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Upper Saddle River School District and BOE Sued Over Harassment and Bullying Allegations

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Upper Saddle River NJ, in a lawsuit, filed in state Superior Court last Thursday, claims that during the 2022-2023 school year, the son was subjected to ongoing harassment and bullying.

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Former Employee Launches Suit Against Alpine Country Club Claiming Harassment, and Discrimination

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Alpine NJ, in a suit filed in Bergen County Superior Court last week, a former employee at the Alpine Country Club is accusing the club and its food and drink manager of gender and racial discrimination, plus harassment against her and other female employees.

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Terminated Investment Bank Employee Arrested for Cyberstalking Former Bank Colleagues in Jersey City

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Jersey City NJ, A former investment bank employee was arrested today in Hudson County, New Jersey, for cyberstalking former bank colleagues, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

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DOJ New Initiative to Address “Harassment, Intimidation and Threats of Violence” Against School Board Members and Employees

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file photo by Boyd Loving

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, on October 4, 2021, the DOJ announced a new initiative to address “harassment, intimidation and threats of violence” against school board members and employees – including but not limited to the creation of a federal task force as well as dedicated lines of communication for threat reporting, assessment, and response by law enforcement under the auspices of the FBI.

Continue reading DOJ New Initiative to Address “Harassment, Intimidation and Threats of Violence” Against School Board Members and Employees

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Katie Brennan lays out policy reform recommendations to address sexual violence, harassment in the Murphy Administration

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 the staff of the Ridgewood blog

TRENTON  NJ, Sexual assault survivor Katie Brennan laid out a list of policy reform recommendations to improve the criminal justice process for victims of harassment, sexual assault and sexual misconduct in New Jersey in a letter to Sen. Loretta Weinberg and members of the Workgroup on Harassment, Assault and Misogyny in New Jersey Politics sent last week. Brennan, who has advocated for sweeping policy change since coming forward in October 2018 about her own sexual assault by senior Phil Murphy campaign and administration staffer Al Alvarez, also said she would like to present to the Workgroup about her proposals at its next hearing in March.

Continue reading Katie Brennan lays out policy reform recommendations to address sexual violence, harassment in the Murphy Administration

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Ridgewood Business Reports Harassment

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Police report that a Wilsey Square business owner responded to Ridgewood Police Headquarters on Sept. 22 to report stalking, harassment and theft. The business owner reported the accused placed harassing fliers around the Village of Ridgewood causing alarm. The complainant reported the accused removed mail from his business and changed the return address. The complainant is considering signing complaints at this time.

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HAWTHORNE MAN CHARGED WITH STALKING, CONTEMPT OF A STALKING RESTRAINING ORDER, CYBER-HARASSMENT, AND HARASSMENT

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Glen Rock NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrest of CHRISTOPHER J. GREIG (DOB: 4/20/82, single; and unemployed) of 26 Parker Avenue, Hawthorne, New Jersey on charges of Stalking, Contempt Of A Stalking Restraining Order, Cyber-Harassment, and Harassment. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti and the Glen Rock Police Department under the direction of Chief Dean Ackermann.

Continue reading HAWTHORNE MAN CHARGED WITH STALKING, CONTEMPT OF A STALKING RESTRAINING ORDER, CYBER-HARASSMENT, AND HARASSMENT

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Cyberbullying has been Major Problem at Ridgewood Schools for almost a Decade

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Cyberbullying has been major problem at Ridgewood Schools for almost a Decade . In 2009 News 4 New York reported that a 16 year old student who was outed by a teacher for being gay,  was then bullied ,became so depressed he had to finish his freshman year at home .

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HAWTHORNE MAN, CHARGED WITH STALKING, CONTEMPT, AND HARASSMENT

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December 2,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Glen Rock NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of CHRISTOPHER J. GREIG (DOB: 4/20/82; single; and employed as a dishwasher) of 26 Parker Avenue, Hawthorne, New Jersey on charges of Stalking, Contempt of Stalking Restraining Order, and Harassment. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti.

On September 12, 2017, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit was informed that a victim received numerous anonymous, alarming phone calls, which contained no caller ID information. The investigation revealed that Christopher J. GREIG utilized technology to block his caller ID information while placing these calls to the victim.

As a result of the investigation, Christopher J. GREIG was arrested on November 30, 2017 in Glen Rock, New Jersey and charged with one count of Stalking, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10C, a third degree crime; one count of Contempt of a Stalking Restraining Order, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9B(1), a fourth degree crime; and one count one of Harassment, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4A, a disorderly persons offense. GREIG was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his arraignment, and is scheduled for a first appearance at Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court on December 20, 2017, at 8:30 a.m.

Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would also like to thank the Glen Rock Police Department under the direction of Chief Dean Ackermann for their assistance.

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RIDGEWOOD SCHOOLS : HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION & BULLYING INVOLVING STUDENTS

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November 3,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, from the Ridgewood Schools website, In January, 2011 New Jersey adopted the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act”, which augmented a battery of school harassment and bullying prevention laws that were passed in 2002. Since the 2002 laws were originally adopted, school employees have had an obligation to report harassment and bullying problems which they see, or of which they become aware. The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act has made that obligation clearer and broader.
The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act reflects a core value to which the Ridgewood Public Schools has long been committed: that respectful behavior fosters a rich and challenging learning environment. A safe and civil environment in school is necessary for pupils to learn and achieve high academic standards. All students should understand that their attitudes and actions affect both their own and their classmates’ learning, and they should accept responsibility for helping to create a positive school environment. With the support of school staff, parent(s)/guardian(s) and other adults in their lives, all students can contribute to the effectiveness of the schools and the value of their education.
The Ridgewood Board of Education explicitly and unequivocally prohibits acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying of its students. “Harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents, that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds pursuant to law, that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students and that:
a. a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his person or damage to his property;
b. has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students; or
c. creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with a student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student. !
Any school employee, contracted service provider, Board of Education member, student or volunteer who has witnessed, or has reliable information that a student has been subject to, harassment, intimidation or bullying is obligated by law to report the incident to the school Principal. !
An act of student harassment, intimidation, or bullying must be reported verbally to the Principal on the same day the person witnesses or receives reliable information regarding the incident. ! The incident must then be reported to the Principal in writing, using the appropriate district form, within two (2) school days of when the incident was observed or the information was received.
As a permanent or substitute school employee, a contracted service provider, a Board of Education member, a student or a volunteer in a New Jersey public school district, one of your responsibilities is to know how to respond if you become aware of harassment, intimidation or bullying that needs to be reported. If you have any questions about how or when to do this, please talk to the school Principal.
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Stormy days before killing; ex-cop accused of threats, harassment of Midland Park woman

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OCTOBER 29, 2015, 6:19 PM    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015, 11:22 PM
BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

The weeks leading up to the Oct. 22 stabbing death of Suzanne Bardzell of Midland Park were marked by a fearful series of events as alleged killer Arthur J. Lomando was charged repeatedly with threatening, terrorizing and harassing the mother of two, according to police records released Thursday.

The files document nearly a dozen alleged incidents — several leading to criminal complaints filed by Bardzell and police in Midland Park and in Teaneck, where the victim worked as a private-school teacher — that preceded the killing of the 48-year-old in the driveway of her Godwin Avenue home.

The records were released by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office as a result of an Open Public Records Act request by The Record.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/police-records-allege-terrorizing-behavior-by-ex-cop-charged-in-killing-of-midland-park-woman-1.1444365

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Cresskill couple charged with stalking

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MAY 8, 2015, 6:41 PM    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015, 11:59 PM
BY ABBOTT KOLOFF AND MARINA VILLENEUVE
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD

A Cresskill man who is a founder of a New York-based investment firm and the president of the Alpine Country Club and his wife have been charged with stalking for allegedly sending anonymous emails in an attempt to force a Cresskill High School basketball coach from his job, according to court papers.

David and Nanci Kushner, both 49, allegedly sent harassing emails to the varsity basketball coach, Michael Doto, and his employers over the course of two years, Cresskill police said in a criminal complaint.

And on Friday, the Tenafly police issued a news release saying that the Kushners had been charged with harassment related to “anonymous email correspondence” sent late last year.

In an interview on Friday, Doto said he had been forwarded emails sent to Cresskill school administrators and had received another email sent to his home account in March. He said that four letters “similar to the emails” were sent to his Cresskill house in March.

“It has been a scary experience for my family and I,” Doto said, declining to comment further.

 

https://www.northjersey.com/news/cresskill-couple-charged-with-stalking-1.1330001