NEWARK, N.J. — The President of the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, Peter Andreyev, issued a statement strongly criticizing Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin’s comments during the sentencing of former Newark police officer Jovanny Crespo.
Crespo was sentenced to 27 years in prison for shooting two men during a January 2019 car chase in Newark’s Central Ward, resulting in one suspect’s death and the injury of another.
Judge Ravin’s remarks, which condemned a perceived “shoot first, ask questions later” mentality within law enforcement, drew significant backlash from Andreyev.
The union president expressed concern that such statements unfairly malign all law enforcement officers and exacerbate the challenges of an already dangerous job.
Andreyev emphasized the importance of judges maintaining public respect and questioned Judge Ravin’s impartiality, noting that some law enforcement personnel protect him daily in his courtroom. He called for individualized adjudication and denounced what he described as reckless, irresponsible, and unacceptable remarks by the judge.
