State attorney general takes over agency’s HR and equal opportunity functions due to racial and gender bias investigations.
The attorney general of New Jersey, Matthew J. Platkin, recently made a significant announcement regarding the State Police department. He has ordered a complete overhaul of the internal affairs unit and taken control of the human resources department. This decision comes after investigations revealed that disciplinary procedures were being misused against certain troopers, leading to bias and unfair treatment within the agency.
In a move to address these issues, Platkin released two reports that highlighted the presence of bias in the department’s promotional practices and identified systemic flaws in its self-policing mechanisms. The reports, which were the result of a four-year review conducted by an external law firm and involved interviews with 150 troopers, shed light on the mishandling of reports related to racism and sexual misconduct within the New Jersey State Police.
The findings of the reports painted a troubling picture of the internal workings of the state’s largest policing agency, revealing a culture where certain members were favored while others hesitated to report instances of discrimination or misconduct due to fears of retaliation. In response to these revelations, Platkin’s office proposed more than twenty policy changes aimed at addressing these systemic issues. These changes include measures such as requiring the disclosure of complaints against senior officers, revising sick-leave policies, adjusting physical fitness tests to be more inclusive of women, and restructuring the academy training program.
By implementing these recommendations, the New Jersey State Police aims to create a more transparent and equitable environment for its troopers, ensuring that all members are treated fairly and that instances of discrimination and misconduct are properly addressed. The attorney general’s intervention marks a significant step towards reforming the agency and fostering a culture of accountability and integrity within the State Police department.
Source: The NY Times
