ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac, a candidate running for governor in New Jersey, issued a statement Monday condemning the fatal shooting of Newark Police Detective Azcona and the wounding of another officer, blaming Democratic leaders for fostering an anti-police climate in New Jersey.
Kranjac, a Republican known for his strong support of President Donald Trump and endorsed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, directly accused Governor Phil Murphy, Attorney General Matt Platkin, former Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka of creating conditions that led to the tragedy.
“The horrific murder of a Police Officer by a 14-year-old child-criminal shows how decades of a left-wing, Marxist, anti-police ideology have hollowed out a once great city,” Kranjac stated. “My prayers go out to the family of Detective Azcona and to the other injured Police Officer.”
Kranjac criticized state and local officials for what he described as their hostility toward law enforcement, pointing to their praise of movements such as Black Lives Matter and their response to incidents like the killing of George Floyd.
“This boy grew up watching government officials like Phil Murphy, Gurbir Grewal, Matt Platkin, and Ras Baraka attack the police, honor criminals like George Floyd, and praise anti-cop grift organizations like Black Lives Matter,” Kranjac said. “They have made us all less safe and have the blood of fallen police officers on their hands.”
The mayor further asserted that the policies of these leaders, rather than the teenage suspect himself, bear greater responsibility for Detective Azcona’s death.
“The truth is Murphy, Grewal, Platkin, and Baraka are far more responsible for Detective Azcona’s death than the boy who pulled the trigger,” he continued. “They created this anti-police environment.”
Kranjac, a self-described political outsider, pointed to his record in Englewood Cliffs, where he unseated a 42-year Democratic political dynasty and fought off multiple legal and political challenges. He argued that only a leader like himself, not establishment-backed Republicans, could bring real change to Trenton.
“Other Republican candidates ‘talk’ about reforming government, but we all know their handlers and donors will never let them make the dramatic changes we need in Trenton,” Kranjac said. “As Mayor of Englewood Cliffs, I defeated a 42-year Democrat dynasty to win election and re-election. I beat back three censure votes by the Democrat council, 12 lawsuits, and withstood withering attacks from the weaponized courts. I’ll fight just as hard as Governor to restore law and order.”
