AG Investigations Reveal 'Deeply Troubling Conduct' By NJ State Police

NEW JERSEY — Major reforms are coming to New Jersey State Police after a pair of investigations revealed "deeply troubling conduct and systemic problems" within the force, the state Attorney General said Tuesday.

More than two dozen changes will be implemented after investigations by AG Matthew Platkin's office and an outside law firm revealed problems with how the NJSP conducts internal affairs and misconduct investigations, as well as inequities with how the agency hires and promotes troopers, Platkin said.

“These investigations revealed deeply troubling conduct and systemic problems within the New Jersey State Police that demand reform, "the Attorney General said.

The reforms are aimed at increasing transparency and accountability overall and addressing the organization's internal culture, particularly in a South Jersey troop "where reports of discrimination and bullying were most prevalent," according to Platkin.

The AG has already moved to take all human resources and equal employment opportunity functions from State Police control and place them under the Department of Law and Public Safety, which is part of his office.

Harassment, Racial Epithets Not Reported

The first report from the AG's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) focused on the force's internal affairs process, and found that now-retired Lt. Joseph Nitti "squandered State resources" investigating the source of an alleged racist comment against a senior Black member of the NJSP by trying to prove that the complainant had fabricated the comment himself.

Nitti was a member of State Police's Office of Professional Standards until he retired last year.

That report also found that after a trooper was arrested for sexual conduct with a 14-year-old, Nitti asked colleagues for a photo of the girl "to see what all the hubbub is about" in a group chat.

According to the OPIA investigation, troopers who were in racial or ethnic minorities refrained from reporting any discriminatory misconduct because of how they were treated. One person inside the NJSP reported that Nitti used the term "Paco" to refer to a Latino member of the police force, and did not report it because they were fearful of retaliation. Another member said Nitti called another NJSP staffer's wife "a typical Puerto Rican," and that comment was also never reported.

Nitti also reportedly sent "harassing text messages" and made "telephone calls laced with profanity" to someone inside the police force, who requested a transfer instead of filing a formal complaint.

Investigators said that this pattern of not reporting misconduct "was attributable to avoiding potential negative career consequences for those who reported the comments and the perception that command staff would rather that no one 'rock the boat' by raising such issues."

New Parents Subjected To 'Integrity Checks'

The other investigation, by Kaufman Dolowich LLP, followed a four-year investigation into reports of race and gender discrimination that related to hiring, retention, and promotion within the State Police. This probe was launched in August 2020, after a number of discrimination allegations from female and minority troopers who reported that NJSP favored white, male troopers for promotions — what they referred to as the “good old boys’ network.”

The review found that race and gender did not significantly impact promotions, but an overwhelming number of enlisted troopers interviewed for this report "felt that they were unable to voice their objections or question their lack of promotion even when they believed it was based on discrimination for fear of reprisal." State Police changed the promotion process in 2015, with some saying the new system "may still be inequitable."

The Kaufman Dolowich report found that female troopers on maternity leave were subjected to "integrity checks" to make sure they were complying with a directive to be at home between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

These "checks" sometimes happened during doctor’s visits, while new mothers were breastfeeding, or when someone was putting a baby to sleep, the report found.

Suggested Changes For The NJSP

The AG said that Col. Patrick Callahan, the Superintendent of New Jersey State Police, "has recognized the need for reform and has agreed to accept the recommended reforms."

“We cannot allow these problems to tarnish the honor and fidelity that so many men and women in this uniform live by," Callahan said in a statement. "I am committed to working with Attorney General Platkin and his team to implement these necessary reforms.”

The AG's office has also directed the NJSP to restructure its academy training program, increased oversight of the agency's internal affairs division, and called for an evaluation of leadership within Troop A and a proposal for "changing the culture" of that Troop.

The other recommended changes include:

• Requiring that State Police notify the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability of all complaints made against senior leadership and members of the Office of Professional Standards.
• Implementing mandatory annual training for all members on discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).
• Changing the sick leave policy and physical fitness tests, including having policies in place "that do not negatively impact pregnant and postpartum persons."
• Implementing an anti-hazing policy.
• Reviewing all confidential position assignments, and internal transfers.
• Reforming the hiring process "so that the demographics of the NJSP will better reflect the diversity of the state it serves."

Platkin's office did not provide a timeline for when these other reforms will be implemented.