TRENTON, NJ – Shootings and shooting murders are skyrocketing in New Jersey and Governor Murphy is blaming it on the “lethal cocktail” of high heat, COVID-19 lockdowns and racism.   Murphy today said that New Jersey is not immune to the rising rate of gun violence we’re now seeing in cities like New York City and Chicago.  Murphy did not cite high unemployment, hunger, poverty or financial situations as a contributing factor to the uptick in violence.  Murphy also did not say the overall waning of respect for police, authority and the increase in lawlessness was a determining factor.  It was also not mentioned that bail reform and reduced punishment for violent offenders was a contributing factor, but he did stop short of blaming guns…so far.  It sounds like the Governor right now is just setting the table for something more ominous in the near future.

“We’re not immune to what we’re seeing around the country in terms of this lethal cocktail,” Murphy said.  “Of being pent up, hot weather and trying to undo the state of racism, folks trying to come to grips with the community and police relations. There’s alot of non-COVID violence it seems everywhere in the country and we’re not immune to that.”

This year, gun murder has jumped 19% up 16 in the first six months of 2020 versus the first six months of 2019.  So far, 100 people have been murdered by perpetrators with guns, versus 84 in 2019.   Non-fatal shootings are also up to 553 from 538 a year ago.

“It’s troubling to report,” said New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan. “We had 39 victims of shootings in this past week alone with 13 succumbing to their injuries and passing away.  The likelihood of it continuing in the warm summer months gives us a tremendous amount of concern.”

“Shootings overall are up 3% year to date, but the shooting murder victims are up 19%,” Callahan said.

Photo by Max Kleinen on Unsplash

FANWOOD, NJ – On Monday morning, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo announced she was exercising her supersession authority such that her office would begin temporarily overseeing the operations of the Fanwood Police Department.  The assistance of the Prosecutor’s Office was requested by Mayor Colleen Mahr and the Fanwood Borough Council following the departure of Chief Richard Trigo who advised both offices late Friday that he would be stepping down effective Monday, July 13, 2020.

In an audio released this week, officers can be heard making sexual and disparaging remarks against New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and an Asian female assistant police chief.

“The prosecutor that came in and wanted to meet with every police chief prior to our… Grace Park, Chinese from the AG’s office,” an officer is heard saying, referring former U.S. Prosecutor Grace H. Park.

“Ya she was parked in my spot, I was going to say something to her,” an officer said.

“She’s pretty hot,” another officer replied.

“Better than that Sikh one trying to get into Bergen County,” another officer was heard saying.

“That f*cking guy with the turban, I wanna pull him like a top,” another officer said.

It turns out one of the voices on the audio was that of Chief Richard Trigo.

Working with borough officials, the Prosecutor’s Office will ensure continuity of operations and stability within the department while the Borough focuses on hiring and appointing new leadership and superior officers for the future of their department – a process already underway according to borough officials. At present, absent the chief, the highest ranking officers in the Department are three sergeants.

“Providing for the safety and security of our residents is our priority and this supervisory partnership makes sure that continues uninterrupted. In light of Chief Trigo stepping down and the recent retirement of other senior members of the Fanwood Police Department, the Borough Council and I sought the assistance of the County Prosecutor’s office to ensure the continuity of services our Fanwood community relies upon and deserves while we seek new leadership for the Borough’s law enforcement,” stated Mayor Mahr.

Ruotolo has appointed Captain Kevin Grimmer of her office to serve as the Officer in Charge of the Department under her leadership.  Captain Grimmer is a 16 year veteran of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office who, prior to joining the Prosecutor’s Office, was a member of the Plainfield Police Division.  Captain Grimmer has more than thirty years in law enforcement, first-hand knowledge of how a police department runs, and oversees several investigative units within the Prosecutor’s Office.  Until Monday, he was one of three members of the Prosecutor’s Office on temporary assignment at another municipal department over which the Prosecutor’s Office has also had to exercise supersession authority, though the Chief there remains the Officer in Charge under UCPO oversight. Captain Grimmer’s duties elsewhere will be assumed by other members of the UCPO team.

Acting Prosecutor Ruotolo and Chief Patricia Gusmano are also temporarily assigning Detective Nicholas Falcicchio to the Fanwood Police Department.  Prior to joining UCPO in 2015, Detective Falcicchio was a member of the Blairstown Police Department, where he temporarily served as an Officer in Charge at times.

Captain Grimmer, with assistance from Detective Falcicchio, will assume control of day-to-day operations of the police force on Monday morning.

“The Prosecutor’s Office looks forward to working with Mayor Mahr, the Borough of Fanwood’s leadership, residents, and officers, as partners while the Borough makes plans for the future of its police force.  Our greatest concern is for the safety of members of the Fanwood community and the police officers who serve and protect them, all of whom deserve professional and respectful leadership in their Police Department, which they will have in Captain Grimmer,”   said acting Prosecutor Ruotolo in a statement.

NEW YORK,  NY – The head of the New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association, President Thomas H. Mungeer today called for the removal of all uniformed state troopers from New York City because of a new law signed into order by Mayor Warren Wilhelm Jr. (aka Bill DeBlasio).

“As President of the New York State Troopers PBA, I am demanding that New York State Police Superintendent Keith Corlett immediately remove all uniformed State Troopers currently stationed within New York City and cease any law enforcement activities within that jurisdiction,” Mungeer said today.  “We have arrived at this unfortunate decision due to the hastily written so-called police reform legislation recently passed by the New York City Council. This poorly conceived bill, which will be signed into law by Mayor de Blasio today, puts an undue burden upon our Troopers; it opens them up to criminal and civil liability for restraining a person during a lawful arrest in a manner that is consistent with their training and is legal throughout the rest of the State. Furthermore, this legislation will prevent Troopers from safely and effectively arresting resistant subjects.”

Mungeer said DeBlasio’s new order on the apprehension of criminals could not turn police officers into criminals themselves.

“The imminent finalization of NYC Administrative Code section 10-181 will criminalize methods of restraint, including putting any pressure on a person’s chest or back. These techniques are commonly used by many law enforcement agencies statewide and nationwide when officers are faced with violently combative subjects. I find it extremely troubling that these acts are now defined as criminal in nature, even if they were unintentional and no injury was sustained by the subject,” he said. “Our Troopers have become a familiar sight in New York City over the past five years following Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s request to help protect the city’s airports, bridges and tunnels against the threat of terrorism. Additionally, our presence there has significantly increased the safety of all New Yorkers as well as the millions of visitors who travel there each year.”

“Despite the positive effects of the presence of Troopers in New York City, this constraining legislation leaves us with few other options. One option would involve New York State Attorney General Letitia James indemnifying State Police members from this ill-conceived law. As that is unlikely to happen, it is the position of the Troopers PBA that if we continue to allow our members to remain stationed and conduct police activity within the five boroughs of New York City, we may be opening them up to criminal and civil liabilities simply by doing the job they were trained to do,” he concluded.

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ –  Point Pleasant Police Chief Joseph Michigan said his police officers did the right thing after confronting and arresting a black man on the Point Pleasant Boardwalk who was carrying an open container of alcohol.  The incident, recorded on video went viral.

“One of the biggest problems with social media is that it often presents only one side of a story creating a false narrative,” Michigan said of the incident after a video of the encounter went viral on Twitter.  “A recent Instagram post where Point Pleasant Beach Police Officers arrested a subject on the boardwalk this past weekend highlights such misinformation.”

The organizers told protesters not to buy food or drinks from Jenkinson’s businesses.

In July police arrested a 29 year old black man during a disturbance on the boardwalk.  The incident was portrayed as police violence against the man, but Point Pleasant Police Chief  Michigan says there’s more to the story that wasn’t captured on the 1-minute video published on the internet.

“The author of the post suggests that the male subject did nothing wrong and was being harassed for only drinking a beer on the boardwalk,” Michigan said.

According to Michigan, on July 12th at 5:55 pm, a twenty-nine-year-old resident of Garfield. NJ, was walking down the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk drinking out of a bottle of “Hennessey” Liquor.

Officers stopped Mr. Murphy and informed him of the local borough ordinance which prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public. He was asked for identification so a borough ordinance summons could be issued for the violation.

“Mr. Murphy did not have identification and provided a false name to the officers,” Michigan said.  “After several attempts to properly identify the subject and after Mr. Murphy began to walk away from officers, he was placed under arrest for obstruction.”

Michigan said instead of listening to the officer’s lawful commands to place his hands behind his back, he began resisting arrest, by not allowing officers to position his hands behind his back and pulling away from them.

“Mr. Murphy was brought to the ground by officers, where he was restrained and handcuffed,” he added. “After his immediate removal from the boardwalk, he was processed and released from Point Pleasant Beach Police Headquarters. Mr. Murphy was NOT arrested for drinking in public; he was arrested for failure to give his proper name (N.J.S. 2C:29-2A) and resisting arrest (N.J.S. 2C:29-1A).”

Michigan said comments made against the officers on the scene were unsettling as police were simply enforcing the law.

“Many comments have been made about the number of officers on the scene, but what the video fails to capture is a volatile crowd shouting obscenities at the officers who were upholding the law. Additional officers were called to ensure the safety and security of all patrons on the boardwalk at the time,” Michigan added.  “No excessive force was used on Mr. Murphy. In fact, officers in the middle of attempting to restrain Mr. Murphy can be seen removing a bench from the area to prevent an injury.”

Michigan said Murphy and all involved officers walked away unharmed, and he was safely removed from the scene.

“I support and stand by the actions of my officers not only in this incident but also in their constant professionalism during this summer season,” he added. “Based on statistics from this point last year in 2019, there has been a 170% increase on the issuance of borough ordinances for drinking in public as well as other offenses.”

Based on recent conversations with public officials and residents, many perceive that Point Pleasant Beach has become less of a family vacation destination due to the aforementioned statistics.

“This staggering increase threatens the quality of life for our residents, and it is a threat I plan to fight head-on,” he said.  “In order to preserve the family-friendly atmosphere, we will continue to employ a zero-tolerance enforcement for these quality of life offenses and disorderly behavior. We will not allow Point Pleasant Beach to lose its small-town charm. I ask those who attempt to portray our officers and town in a negative light to get all facts before spreading misinformation: law enforcement has enough challenges to contend with in our current climate. I will continue to support my officers during these very trying times. Before you accept a social media post as fact, remember to account for both sides of the story.”

The video of the incident has since been removed from Twitter.

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. — The 305th and 514th Air Mobility Wings bid farewell to the first KC-10 Extender set for retirement during a ceremony July 13 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.

The ceremony recognized the aircraft for its contributions to the Air Force over the span of more than 33 years of service, and marked the first retirement of 59 Extenders intended for eventual replacement by the KC-46A Pegasus.

“Today, we solemnly, and with an immense amount of pride, say ‘farewell’ to the first KC-10 in the McGuire fleet to make its journey to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group – more commonly known as the ‘Boneyard,’” said U.S. Air Force Col. Scott Wiederholt, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander.

The aircraft was the first of three identified KC-10s from the Air Force’s Backup-Aircraft Inventory that were congressionally approved for retirement during Fiscal Year 2020. Following the ceremony, the aircraft was flown to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, where it will continue to support the remaining Extenders with spare parts as they are flown for several years while the KC-46A is integrated into Air Mobility Command’s Total Force tanker enterprise.

“This aircraft, like all the aircraft in our KC-10 fleet, has served honorably and provided life-saving fuel to warfighters executing global reach,” Wiederholt said. “[The aircraft] ensured that all missions, whether combat, re-supply or humanitarian, were executed in a manner like no other nation in the world is capable of doing.”

According to the 305th AMW historian Stuart Lockhart, the aircraft, tail number 86-0036, originally entered service at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, in December 1986. After its involvement in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the aircraft temporarily relocated to Travis AFB, California, before finding its permanent home at JBMDL in 1997.

Altogether, the aircraft flew 33,017 flight hours supporting missions in six different continents and refueled more than 125,000 aircraft from 25 different countries, Lockhart said. He also stated that nearly 11,000 aircrew members have flown the aircraft, while another 12,000 maintainers took care of it.

“Airmen of both the 305th and the 514th have flown this airplane in the face of our nation’s enemies,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Thomas Pemberton, 514th Air Mobility Wing commander. “Without fail, they enabled the strategic effects of combatant commanders, extended the powerful reach of the National Command Authorities and enabled soldiers and Marines in enemy contact a safe haven as KC-10s refueled their air support and air cover overhead.”

For nearly four decades, KC-10s have helped secure global reach for America, providing in-flight refueling to U.S. and coalition aircraft, from Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm to Operation Inherent Resolve.

The retirement comes as the Air Force begins preparing for integrating the KC-46 into the Total Force tanker enterprise. Select portions of the legacy tanker fleet will be gradually divested, which allows for the recapitalization of the aging tanker fleet, while also maintaining its aerial refueling capability and capacity for the warfighter.

“Thank you for your dedication to this mission, aircraft and to all the Airmen who played a role in ensuring its prominent place in the finest Air Force in the world,” Wiederholt said. “This is an exciting time to be part of our Air Force, and I look forward to watching this total force team soar to new heights in the coming years.”

by Shaun Egan, USAF.

TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy takes a lot of hits from the media, but we feel credit is due to the Governor for keeping alive the memories of those who we’ve lost, sometimes, even months after their passing.  The Governor’s daily tribute is a touching reminder of those who we lost during the height of the pandemic and without his reminder, many would have forgotten.  It wasn’t until July 6th when we realized Governor Murphy was pulling memorials from the archives.

On that day, Jazz prodigy Wallace Rooney III was memorialized by the governor.  I had to do a double-take, because Rooney passed away nearly four months earlier and I remembered reading his story in the New York Times back in March. It was then I realized that the governor’s daily roll call of COVID-19 victims and memorials was not tied at all to the rest of the press briefing, overnight deaths, etc, but a nice memorial tribute to those who died during the height of the pandemic.

On Monday, the Governor took a moment to remember Elana and Aurora Alvarez.

“Both came to the U.S. from their native Peru as young children. They both had careers as cosmetologists. Elena is being remembered for her pleasant smile, her ability to make everyone laugh, and her zest for life,” the Governor said about the two women.  Alvarez passed away on Tuesday, May 28th, two and a half months ago.

He also recognized former Atlantic City security guard Arthur Tolbert who passed away May 12th.

“We remember Arthur Tolbert, whose home was Atlantic City. He worked in the casinos, and then as a security guard for the Atlantic City Housing Authority. Arthur loved sports, chess, playing the drums, solving crossword puzzles, and spending time with his family,” Murphy wrote.

Dr. Arnold Demain, 92, died back on April 3rd, but Murphy kept his memory alive at his July 10th press briefing.

“We remember Dr. Arnold Demain. He was a proud World War II veteran, and a research microbiologist and university professor. Arny was a true pioneer in the life sciences who wrote or edited countless books and articles, and received numerous awards,” the governor wrote.

Two days earlier, on July 8th, the Governor remembered Vincent Buchinsky, Jr., 70.  Buchinsky passed away on April 6th, so it was a fitting way to remember this New Jersey resident three months after his passing.

“We remember Vincent Buchinsky Jr., an award-winning artist and educator. For thirty years, he taught & inspired thousands of students in his classrooms in Harrison High School and Sussex County Community College. In retirement, he taught art classes to seniors,” Murphy said.

That same day, he remembered Joyce Brauchle, who passed months earlier, on April 3rd.

“Joyce Brauchle, who was born in Newark, raised in Caldwell, and called Pine Brook home for the majority of her life. She was a compassionate soul who did whatever she could to brighten someone’s day, and found her inspiration in her faith. May God bless Joyce,” the Governor said.

Say what you want about Governor Phil Murphy, we may not like his public policy in any way, but he does take the time to remember people who otherwise would have been forgotten, the blessed souls we lost at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

TRENTON, NJ – We called it earlier today. Governor Murphy followed the lead of New York Governor Cuomo and added four more states to the self-quarantine list.

Governor Murphy today advised individuals traveling to New Jersey from additional states with significant community spread of COVID-19 to quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state. The updated advisory includes four additional states – Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, and Wisconsin – with Delaware removed from the list. The travel advisory applies to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.

As of Tuesday, July 14, there are currently 22 states total that meet the criteria stated above: Alabama; Arkansas; Arizona; California; Florida; Georgia; Iowa; Idaho; Kansas; Louisiana; Minnesota; Mississippi; North Carolina; New Mexico; Nevada; Ohio; Oklahoma; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Utah; and Wisconsin.

“We must remain vigilant and committed to our collective effort of beating COVID-19 and reducing the rate of transmission throughout New Jersey,” said Governor Murphy. “In order to continue moving forward with New Jersey’s restart and recovery process, I strongly urge individuals arriving from these 22 states to self-quarantine and proactively get a COVID-19 test to prevent hotspots from flaring up across our state.”

Travelers and those residents who are returning from impacted states should self-quarantine at their home, hotel, or other temporary lodging. Individuals should leave the place of self-quarantine only to seek medical care/treatment or to obtain food and other essential items.

It is expected that individuals will follow the public health advisory to self-quarantine. The list of states will be updated on a rolling basis and is accessible here.

Photo – screen capture, NBC Today where Murphy first hinted at quarantines for out-of-state travelers.

TRENTON, NJ – New York State now requires a mandatory quarantine for visitors from half of the United States.  Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo added Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and New Mexico to the quarantine list.  New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy usually follows the lead of the New York Governor, so we can expect Murphy to also add those four states the 18 other states in the New Jersey quarantine list.

Delaware has been removed from New York’s quarantine list.

“New Yorkers showed incredible courage and resiliency throughout this pandemic and nowhere is their work more evident than in the numbers we release every day, including in New York City, once a global hotspot,” Governor Cuomo said today. “However, the success of our efforts depends on citizens’ willingness to comply with state guidance, socially distance, wear masks and wash their hands, and rising cases around the country continue to threaten our progress, which is why four new states have been added to New York’s travel advisory.”

Mythbuster Grant Imahara has died at the young age of 49.  One of the stars of the hit Discovery Channel series was a special effects engineer who worked previously at THX and Industrial Light and Magic, Lucasfilm subsidiaries.

“We are heartbroken to hear this sad news about Grant. He was an important part of our Discovery family and a really wonderful man. Our thoughts and prayers. We are heartbroken to hear this sad news about Grant. He was an important part of our Discovery family and a really wonderful man. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family,” said the Discovery Channel.

Initial reports say Imahura died of a brain aneurysm.

RARITAN, NJ – The commute to work for millions of New Jerseyeans who managed to not lose their jobs during the Phil Murphy shutdown will not have a “new normal” as things get “back to normal” aboard trains, busses, light rail vehicles and access link vehicles.   The order comes as Murphy shut down indoor dining and has declared “flareups” of COVID-19.  The move could soon be related to Governor Murphy’s order to send sick COVID-19 patients to their deaths in nursing homes statewide.

The science behind Murphy’s latest executive order doesn’t seem to exist…but you’ll be safe locked for an hour or more in booked to capacity trains, busses and light rail vehicles knowing that to protect your safety, the consumption of food and drinks will be strictly prohibited.

Murphy who always raves about “Economic wealth starts with economic health” is once again contradicting his own science to benefit the bottom line for NJ Transit.

Not only does this measure contradict every bit of science Phil Murphy claims he’s operating in guidance of, it also will create havoc on the Governor’s army of contact tracers.  At this point, if travel is allowed in packed trains, you might as well just open everything up, because there’s no better example of a virus dispersal vehicle than mass transit.   It’s why mass transit is one of the highest bio-terrorism targets in the world.

No this is one more example of the governor picking winners and losers during the COVID-19 pandemic.  If you can sit in a packed train, you can sit in a half empty movie theater, you can sit in a 25% capacity restaurant and ya, you can even go to the damn gym already.

Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 165, which lifts 50 percent capacity limits on NJ TRANSIT and private-carrier buses, trains, light rail vehicles and Access Link vehicles, and now requires that NJ TRANSIT and private-carriers limit vehicles to the maximum seated capacity, effective at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15.

“As we continue on our road back, we are seeing increases in ridership which are quickly approaching 50 percent of the stated capacity of NJ TRANSIT and private-carrier vehicles,” said Governor Murphy.“To ensure New Jerseyans can get to and from their jobs and that the system continues operating efficiently, we are allowing our transit providers to resume operations at full seated capacity.”

The Governor’s Executive Order continues mitigation efforts that were previously implemented, including requiring workers and customers to wear face coverings while on all buses, trains, light rail vehicles, and Access Link vehicles. This Order extends face covering requirements for workers and customers to the indoor premises of trains, buses, stations, or facilities owned or operated by NJ TRANSIT or private-carriers, as well as the outdoor portion of stations where social distancing is not practicable. The only exceptions for these face-covering requirements are when wearing a face covering would inhibit that individual’s health or where the individual is under two years of age.

The Order also explicitly prohibits the consumption of food or beverages and smoking in all trains, buses, and vehicles that are operated by NJ TRANSIT, private carriers, and Employer Provided Transportation Services.

The Order also imposes certain mitigation efforts on employers that provide transportation services to workers or employees to get to, return from, or move within or among worksites that are not otherwise available to the general public.

For a copy of Executive Order No. 165, please click here.

Stock Photo by Eldon Vince Isidro on Unsplash

#fckstuartmeissner