Undercover Patrols At Branch Brook Suspended Two Weeks After Shooting Death Of Dean Gaymon

A few days after meeting with gay activists, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura announced late Friday that authorities would suspend an undercover patrol designed to crack down on gay men who use a county park for sexual activity, according to The Star-Ledger.

The move came exactly two weeks after an undercover officer identified as Edward Esposito shot and killed an Atlanta CEO, DeFarra "Dean" Gaymon, in New Jersey for his 30th Montclair High School reunion. The incident occurred in Branch Brook Park in Newark.

Fontoura said that he is working with local gay rights activists to see if both sides can develop a plan to stop inappropriate behavior in the parks.

Darnell Moore, chairman of the City of Newark's Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Commission, told Patch that he and other gay rights activists would meet again with Fontoura as early as this week to discuss ways the two sides can work together.

"Sheriff Fontoura seems open to partnering with local LGBT organizations," he said.

Moore added that: "The move on the part of the Sheriff to suspend the undercover operations in Branch Brook park is consistent with the desires of Newark LGBT leaders. It also signals the Sheriff's commitment to putting into action a practice that will hopefully keep tragic incidents, like that of the Gaymon shooting, from occurring again. I applaud the Sheriff's decision."

Earlier this week, Attorney General Paula Dow said that her office would not investigate the shooting death of the unarmed Gaymon, a 48-year-old father of four.

Over the last several days, several groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, had urged the Attorney General to conduct a separate inquiry.

Fontoura declined to specify any specific changes regarding the operation but simply said that there would be a complete review of the way police deal with public lewdness and sexual activity in places such as Branch Brook and South Mountain Reservation.