Ridgewood chief asks Bergen County prosecutor to investigate attempt to hire two police officers
Monday, February 3, 2014 Last updated: Monday February 3, 2014, 5:24 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — The village police chief wants the county prosecutor to assess his decision to extend conditional job offers to two candidates, even though it exceeded the number of patrol officers allowed on the force.
Police Chief John Ward said he made the request last Thursday — the morning after he appeared before the Village Council to support a retroactive amendment to the code, boosting the number of officers to 32. Currently, the department can only have 30 patrol officers.
Ward extended offers of employment to two Ridgewood residents on Jan. 17; both men are related to current or retired officers, and were supposed to start police academy training last week.
“I requested the investigation to reassure the community, so they know they can still have faith in the department and my actions,” Ward said Monday, adding that he also reached out to his department’s own internal affairs officers to initiate an inquiry.
The outside investigation is good. Surprising that in a very tight market the top two candidates are relatives of current and former officers. Maybe they know the ropes and the recruits were given intensive prep. It is like taking the SAT, some students have more resources available.
Looking to rewrite the Law to fit your claim?
Original story revised twice may have added to the confusion,
Reporters sometimes don’t get all the facts straight the first, too.
I thought that offers were extended to four people, not two.
Think I’ll get my report soon?
Aronsohn friends at the Record CH writes stores as dedicated by our mayour
Well if the Chief did something wrong then why would he call for an investigation?
You know how scary that is. Do we have any rights here as taxpayers?
The Chief is trying to clear his name after Aldo and his buddy TL just about accused him of wrong doing. The Chief is accustom to this kind of political attacks and has taken the proper action as he did before.
Prep courses are available to anyone with the interest to attend and study, the companies are all over the internet. If the family members don’t come out high enough they don’t get hired. For the dept. to pass a candidate they have to have a reason and if the candidate files an appeal the town must credibly document why said candidate was passed over. In some instances candidates sign off or defer for various reasons, this moves everyone else up towards the top of the list this stands true for all applicant’s regardless of family or political tie. Period end!
Maybe because of all the “other” stuff going on. Knows he’s gonna be fall guy because he did the knocking!
The THREE AMIGOS and the other person who spoke at the council meeting ( ALDO’S FRIEND) did the knocking.
The Council changes the story to confuse. First it was the budget but oh wait we budgeted for these officers. Oh it nepotism. Oh wait we talked about it and still sent the candidates through. We also have hired legacy candidates during or tenure. Oh wait we have an ordinance that everyone should of known ( BUT US) what the hell 3 of signed it why would we know. Please! Let blame it on the Chief no no the VM no no the candidates. I’m surprised they haven’t blamed it on Bush. Well its still early.
Oh, so it the village Council that did the knocking? I don’t know looked like the Chief to me that did the knocking.
Ward went through this once before, when a rift between 2 supervisors erupted into administrative charges. One of the supervisors fired off letter that intimated Ward did something wrong. Ward sent the letter and the case to the prosecutors office for outside review the pros response was Ward did everything right. One thing about Ward he might be a Ham for the cameras but he knows AG procedure and follows it very closely sometimes too much so. One thing this town needs is a complete sweep of the existing politicians, and when ward retires bring in and outside director with no family or political ties to anyone on the PD, and let him or her run the dept. unfettered for 2 years after which he or she forwards a detailed report to the new council outlining specific changes to policy and personnel. Thank You I’ve said my piece
Can we get someone to investigate our Council?
#17, yes, please!
Council will be investigated if those with a conflict vote on items that they are partial to. If it looks like a conflict they need to be honest about their connections
If hauck votes for Valley it will be immediate grounds for a conflict of interest investigation. I can’t wait
Forget about the Prosecutors office. They should be investigated by the State Attorneys Office and someone should Notify the State bar Association. If these accusation of political retribution are found to be true the the Deputy Mayor should be censured at the very lest.
I think you have to start at the county level and then if there’s a conflict of interest the bcpo can pass it on to te state.
I have been waiting for a report from IA for months. I’m the woman being retaliated against with her daughter. Now the blame game is starting. It’s more than about the hiring. It will come out. It’s about what agency is going to take the blame for this. They addressed it last night that you can speak your mind without being retaliated against. Well, I will keep you posted on that, if the retaliation stops. They should be in jail for what they have done to me & especially my sweet daughter, who never hurt a soul. Psychologically, she & I will never be the same. It is the evilness of all crimes & trust me the Chief is no saint. #20 you are right about the prosecutor’s office, but it’s coming out. The Village just distanced themselves from this last night. I live right around the corner from Deputy Mayor.