Hoboken Police Department

At the City Council meeting on July 2nd, Councilman Michael Russo proposed an ordinance to eliminate the position of Chiefs of Police and Fire Division. Councilman Russo cited the city will immediately save $500,000. I cannot argue with the financial savings; however, I will take issue with the statement that the Director of Public Safety can supervise the Police and Fire Departments. Did Mayor Roberts hire Superman? While the present Public Safety Director was a high-ranking member of the Fire Department several years ago, where did he get his expertise in police matters? The position of Public Safety Director is also limited by state statute and an Appellate Court ruling forbidding the Director from running the day-to-day operations of a police department.

Councilmembers are demanding an investigation into the leak of a scathing report by the city's labor attorney into the Hoboken SWAT team/Hooters scandal to the media.

"We've asked for a copy of the Corrigan report," said City Councilwoman Dawn Zimmer at Wednesday's council meeting, referring to the report by city labor attorney David Corrigan. "Fox News got a copy and The Jersey Journal got a copy and we've been asking for it and we haven't seen it."

HOBOKEN - City officials were furious yesterday that the findings of an internal investigation had been leaked to the media, but appeared undecided whether to pursue an investigation to determine who did it.

The Hoboken Now blog (NJ.com/HobokenNow) and Fox 5 News both had stories on the findings of city labor attorney David Corrigan's investigation into the Hoboken Police Department.

City attorney Steven Kleinman said that no one connected to the city released it and doing so was a "violation of New Jersey attorney general guidelines."

Police Chief Carmen LaBruno, who is retiring at the end of next month with a six-figure pension, and former SWAT team leader Lt. Angelo Andriani abused their positions of authority and engaged in illegal conduct, a scathing internal investigation into the Hoboken Police Department has found.

LaBruno and Andriani, who is suspended in the wake of the SWAT team scandal, are not the only cops slammed in the report. Members of the SWAT team who have filed a discrimination lawsuit against Andriani and the department also are treated harshly in the report.

PBA President speaks out on the unfairness of SWAT punishment

The president of the union representing Hoboken's rank and file officers is describing the departmental charges filed by the city against his members in connection with the SWAT team scandal as unfair and is accusing the media coverage of creating a "lynch-mob mentality."

"The level of recommended discipline is not only excessive but also unfair," said Vince Lombardi, president of the Policeman's Benevolent Association, in a recent statement.

The city announced last week that nine cops have been accused of violating several provisions of state administrative code and departmental rules and procedures. Officials said sanctions against the cops range from a 10-day suspension to termination, but would not be specific.

Retiring a few years early will leave 59-year-old Police Chief Carmen LaBruno with a comfortable landing - and may cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The city has not yet sealed a deal with the chief, sources say, but he is expected to announce this week that he will retire at the end of June, sources have told The Jersey Journal.

LaBruno, who has been chief for the past 18 years, has been under pressure for his role in two SWAT team trips to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina - one in September 2005 and the other during Mardi Gras 2006.

Mayor David Roberts has recruited some experienced lawyers to show the city is being "fair and impartial" in its investigation of nine unnamed officers charged in connection the SWAT scandal.

But others say that the city is prepared to throw a few lower-ranking police officers under the bus and pay top dollar to shield itself from further litigation.

Roberts said that he asked criminal defense lawyer Paul Condon, a former Essex County prosecutor, at $150 an hour, to present disciplinary charges on behalf the city in administrative proceedings.

Hoboken Mayor David Roberts promises a "fair and impartial" investigation. But the Mayor, Hoboken's Chief Executive, was also present at Kenner. Is he investigating himself?

The Jersey Journal quoted Hoboken Mayor David Roberts as saying "that he would be "extraordinarily careful" in picking a replacement" for outgoing Police Chief Carmen LaBruno and that problems for LaBruno began after the now disbanded SWAT team's post-Hurricane Katrina trip to Kenner, La., in September 2005 and a subsequent visit to New Orleans for Mardi Gras the following year. 

Roberts is also quoted as saying that “he knew that there'd be criticism that there was "going to be a whitewash" and moved to ensure that the city was fair and impartial.“

Wait a second, weren’t there “other” City Officials on the “humanitarian” trips to Kenner, La?   How about Mayor David Roberts and Councilman Michael Russo?

In the quest for a scapegoat, it appears that one important mitigating circumstance may have been overlooked, the CHAIN OF COMMAND and a LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT.

The Jeresy Journal is reporting that Police Chief Carmen LaBruno will announce his retirement next week in the wake of the department's SWAT team scandal, city sources said tonight.

Police Chief Carmen LaBruno will announce his retirement next week in the wake of the department's SWAT team scandal, city sources said tonight.

LaBruno, 59, is expected to make a formal declaration ending his 37-year law enforcement career sometime next week, according to sources.

The chief is expected to stay during a transition period that would end in June.

Is Mayor Roberts conducting a flawed internal investigation? "It's like Alice in Wonderland," Attorney Charles Sciarra said. "This is all political and not a legitimate investigation. The city is trying to undo the damage that was done when the mayor watched all this happen."

The racy photos of cops cavorting with Hooters waitresses rocked the Hoboken Police Department. Now, officers face disciplinary charges after a scathing report on their conduct was released.

The photos embarrassed and brought unwanted attention to the Hoboken police.

Officers of the disbanded SWAT team and their chief are seen in the photos having a ball during Mardi Gras, and with Hooters waitresses during the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

Retiring Hoboken patrolman John Camile told CBS 2 HD he's moving on with a bit of a heavy heart.

"You feel that weight that people are taking everything and putting down the police department," retiring Hoboken cop John Camile told CBS 2 HD.