Support for police chief
Anne LaGrange Loving
I am very happy that the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office has cleared Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward of any criminal wrongdoing in the investigation into his hiring of two police recruits this year.
Chief Ward is quoted as saying he hopes that the public’s faith in him has been reaffirmed. Rest assured, the residents of Ridgewood never lost faith in Ward, as witnessed by the many, many residents who attended and spoke in his defense at two contentious Village Council meetings earlier this year.
Furthermore, those residents condemned the manner in which our elected officials conducted their questioning of our police chief, and in their last-minute retraction of the job offers to the police recruits.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/the-record-letters-monday-oct-27-1.1118596#sthash.H5oN2ssV.dpuf
It would be nice to see an apology to the Chief from the council members.
Yes #1 it would be nice but then again they are not nice people.
Relax folks the Chief has plans for an improved job change I’m sure.
Usually any action taken by the Council is usually recommended by the Village Mgr. — I haven’t seen one yet..
“Relax folks the Chief has plans for an improved job change ” What the hell does that mean DOM. Do you just post to see yourself post. Your post make no sense. “Usually any action taken by the Council is usually recommended by the Village Mgr.” What action ?
Stay close to your friends but keep your enemies closer.
Kill ’em with kindness, Chief.
I think Chief is a solid guy. Dealt with him a couple of times, especially during Sandy. He’s always working in the field. Leads by example, strong personality but ego is in check.
It would be nice to see an apology for the two police recruits, also. That was a terrible experience for them.
Isn’t this the same Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office that gave “Tommy Boy” Rica a pass after stealing at least $460,000 in quarters from the Village ?
I think a “Pass” would mean no punishment what soever. I know what your going to say and I would agree that he should have gone to jail but he didn’t get a pass.
Are you intimating #8 that Chief Ward did something illegal and the Bergen County Prosecutor let him go?
Sounds like one of REV. AL friends might be posting #8
The question that no one has asked yet is did the Police Chief pass over a qualified candidate with no family ties to the village to hire the sons of past and present police officers? If so for what reason did he pass that qualified candidate? I would like to hear the Chief’s answer to that question.
What do we make of the chief admitting he violated the code? Sure, no grounds to prosecute but look in the minutes and on this site. He said himself it was improper.
The question is what qualified candidate did the Chief pass over #12? If you want to hear the Chief answer to that question than go and ask him.
I’ve lived here almost 25 years and I’ve never seen that policeman before…what does that mean..?
The answer is that the PROSECUTORS office cleared him completely and closed the file. The fact that Albert and Paul and Gwenny Girl have egg on their faces does not change anything – it just means that they will post here on the blog to try and keep a shadow of doubt going to try and get the egg off their faces. They are such lowlife.
Perhaps one of the posters here is a Mister TL……..you know who you are.
The fact is that the Chief did the right thing – he asked the Prosecutor to look in to something where he himself admitted he had improperly hired someone in violation of Village rules. But the reaction here on this blog is exactly why we need to hire from a broader pool of cadets from surrounding towns, not just people who live in Ridgewood. Many posters here think Chief Ward is above the rules, and that the Village Council should be ashamed somehow that they questioned him. Diversity of opinion and different views is what makes for a stronger organization, but many in the posts above imply that people think the rules here aren’t the point. That’s a slippery slope.
Rev Al is that you ?
#18 – it is not a problem THAT they questioned Chief Ward. it is a problem HOW they questioned Chief Ward. their questions should have been asked in a closed door meeting, not in a public three ring circus atmosphere. Of course we want the rules to be followed. One of the rules, however, is that personnel matters should be handled in closed sessions. And a general rule of society is innocent until proven guilty. They attacked John Ward as if he were a convicted criminal. And for these reasons, the three Council members should be publicly reprimanded.
#18 reads like it was authored by a lawyer. It doesn’t pass the smell test.
a lawyer, you say? Hmmmmm…… There was a lawyer leading the charge agains John Ward, along with his sidekick the mayor and of course the retired cop.
I guess none of you were at the meeting, nor did you bother to read the transcript
The candidate who was skipped is a family member of former police officers and a current police officer. The Chief brought the case to the prosecutors office after he was accused of wrong doing by the council for attempting to hire a greater number of total officers under his command. That number was determined by VM Gabbert. The acting VM then made the decision of who to hire in January for the police department.