>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH.

MJN INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE, THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

AND BY POLITICO'S NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK, A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.

>>> PAINFUL REMINDERS THAT POLICE REFORMS ARE LONG OVERDUE.

HI, EVERYBODY.

IT'S "REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

COLLEEN O'DAY, PROJECTS EDITOR FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

SEAN SULLIVAN IS A REPORTER FOR NJ ADVANCE SKBMEET YEAH AND DAN MUNOS.

WE BEGIN TODAY WITH DISCUSSION OF REFORMING POLICING IN NEW JERSEY, AND I GUESS BY EXTENSION THE UNITED STATES, AS IF WE COULD ACCOMPLISH THAT IN TEN MINUTES.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS A GREAT SOURCE FOR A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS.

HE IS A PARTNER AT PATTERSON, BELL NAP, WEBB AND TYLER.

HE IS A FORMER STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WE WELCOME BACK PETER HARVEY.

GENERAL, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MAN.

WELCOME.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, DAVID.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO I ASSUME YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY ABOUT THE PATH TER SON SHOOTING, A CRISIS INTERVENTION IST SHOT AND KILLE BY POLICE AFTER HIS OWN EMOTIONAL CRISIS.

TEXTBOOK CASE IT WOULD SEEM WHY WE NEED MORE CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AND BETTER TRAINING FOR POLICE, NO?

>> YES.

YOU PUT YOUR FINGER ON IT, TRAINING.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT CITIES AND TOWNS INVEST ENOUGH IN TRAINING AND INVEST ENOUGH IN EXAMINING THEIR EXISTING POLICIES AND REVISING THEM OR WRITING NEW ONES.

SOMETIMES NO POLICY EXISTS, THEREFORE, NO TRAINING EXISTS.

SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE POLICIES YOU HAVE WITH RESPECT TO CRISIS INTERVENTION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM SOME MENTAL EPISODE.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR TRAINED UNARMED CRISIS WORKERS TO TAKE ON A ROLE THAT MANY POLICE SAY THEY'RE FORCED TO TAKE ON AND FOR WHICH POLICE AND RESIDENTS SAY THEY'RE NOT PROPERLY TRAINED, RIGHT?

>> IN SOME SITUATIONS, AS YOUR QUESTION IMPLIES, SOCIAL SERVICE WORKERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD.

IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THERE REALLY IS A RISK OF SERIOUS BODILY HARM TO OTHERS, THE POLICE MAY NEED TO TAKE THE LEAD BUT THEY HAVE TO BE TRAINED SO THAT THEY DON'T OVERREACT AND USE DEADLY FORCE WHERE IT'S NOT CALLED FOR WHEN A LESSER FORCE COULD HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.

>> WE SAW THE GOVERNOR TALK ABOUT A $10 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE ARRIVE TOGETHER PROGRAM THAT PAIRS SOCIAL WORKERS AND CRISIS TEAMS WITH POLICE, BUT THAT'S $10 MILLION FOR THAT WHEN IN PATERSON ALONE THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET IS $43 MILLION.

ARE LAWMAKERS AND POLITICAL LEADERS NOT READY TO COMMIT REAL DOLLARS TO POLICE REFORM?

>> WELL, THAT -- YOU RAISE A BUDGETARY CONCERN.

I THINK CITIES HAVE TO PUT IN THE MONEY IN ADDITION TO THE STATE.

NOW YOU JUST CAN'T RUN TO TRENTON AND SAY, FUND ME, BECAUSE WE HAVE TOO MANY MUNICIPALITIES AND WE DON'T HAVE SHARED SERVICES IN COUNTIES.

COUNTIES HAVE TO STEP IN.

CITIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STEP IN, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY IT STARTS WITH CITY ADMINISTRATION AND POLICE LEADERSHIP LOOKING AT THEIR EXISTING POLICIES, FINDING OUT WHETHER THEY EVEN HAVE A POLICY THAT COVERS THIS.

AND IF THEY DON'T, WRITING ONE AND GETTING HELP TO WRITE A GOOD ONE.

SECONDLY, WRITE THE TRAINING THAT ACCOMPANIES THE POLICY AND TRAIN YOUR OFFICERS.

LOOK, WE TRAIN OUR OFFICERS ON HOW TO USE THEIR GUN.

SOME POLICE DEPARTMENTS, I KNOW WITH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, EVERY QUARTER THEY GO IN AND HAVE TO FIRE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF ROUNDS, MAYBE 100, 125 ROUNDS.

IF WE ARE THAT DEDICATED TO TRAINING THEM SO THEY KNOW HOW TO USE DEADLY FORCE, WE SHOULD BE AS EQUALLY COMMITTED ON TRAINING THEM HOW TO DE-ESCALATE AND HOW TO ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE WHO REALLY SHOULD NOT BE KILLED BUT, RATHER, SHOULD BE HANDLED, THEY SHOULD BE SUBDUED IN A SAFE WAY, SAFE MANNER TO THEMSELVES AND TO THE OFFICER AND TO THE PUBLIC.

>> YEAH.

ON CHAT BOX WE WERE TALKING WITH LISA CROHOWDRY.

SHE SAID SOMETHING THAT WAS SPOT ON.

THE ONLY TOOLS THAT THE OFFICERS HAD WERE THEIR GUNS SO THAT'S WHAT THEY USED.

>> WELL, THEY HAVE MORE TOOLS THAN THAT.

THAT'S THE DEFAULT TOOL.

THEY HAVE CONVERSATION, THEY HAVE OTHER EQUIPMENT THAT ALLOWS THEM TO SURROUND AN INDIVIDUAL TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

THEY HAVE SHIELDS THAT -- YOU SEE THEM, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE'S A THREAT OF A RIOT, THEY PULL OUT SHIELDS.

MY POINT IS THAT THERE ARE OTHER MEANS AND METHODS BY WHICH YOU CAN SUBDUE SOMEONE HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, AND YOU SHOULD CALL IN OTHER CITY SERVICES, THERE ARE EXPERTS IN THE CITY, BUT MY GUESS IS THEY'VE NEVER TRAINED TOGETHER, THEY PROBABLY DON'T KNOW EACH OTHER AND THERE'S NO POLICY OR TRAINING THAT EDUCATES THE OFFICER SO THE DEFAULT IS NOT THE GUN, THE DEFAULT IS THE TRAINING AND THE TRAINING IS, OH, GET SO AND SO ON THE PHONE, PULL OUT THE SUCH AND SUCH TEAM, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN HANDLE THIS.

AND HERE'S THE OTHER POINT, YOU HAVE TIME.

IF SOMEONE IS ALONE, THEY DON'T HAVE A HOSTAGE, THEY'RE BARRICADED IN A ROOM, YOU HAVE TIME.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACT RIGHT AWAY UNLESS THERE'S SOME THREAT THAT THE BUILDING IS GOING TO BE DETONATED OR SOMETHING, YOU HAVE THE TIME TO WAIT IT OUT.

CALM THINGS DOWN.

NEWARK HAD A HOSTAGE SITUATION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO PRE-PANDEMIC.

A GUY WHO HAD HOSTAGES, WHO HAD WEAPONS AND IT WAS RESOLVED PEACEFULLY.

HE ULTIMATELY SURRENDERED BECAUSE THEY WERE PATIENT ENOUGH, IN PART DUE TO THE TRAINING AND THE -- THAT THE OFFICERS RECEIVED AS A RESULT OF THE CONSENT DECREE.

>> THAT'S -- >> IT WAS A REAL SUCCESS.

>> THAT'S A NICE TRANSITION FOR US.

YOU ARE THE FEDERAL MONITOR FOR THE CITY OF NEWARK POLICE DEPARTMENT.

GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE CITY, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE POINTING TO AS A MODEL FOR REFORM.

WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW?

AND WHERE DO YOU STILL NEED TO GO THERE?

>> WE'RE IN YEAR SEVEN OF THE CONSENT DECREE.

IT WAS AN ORIGINAL FIVE YEARS WITH A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION.

WE ARE IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THAT TWO-YEAR EXTENSION.

SOME OF THE WORK WAS SLOWED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE JUST COULDN'T MEET IN PERSON.

>> RIGHT.

>> NEWARK COULDN'T DO TRAININGS IN PERSON.

WE COULDN'T DO AUDITS IN PERSON.

EVERYTHING HAD TO STOP.

THERE WAS A STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AS YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF NEWARK.

NEWARK IS DOING PRETTY WELL.

THEY MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN A NUMBER OF AREAS FROM THEIR WRITING OF OVER 15 POLICIES COVERING EVERYTHING FROM USE OF FORCE, STOP SEARCH, SEARCHES AND ARRESTS WITH OR WITHOUT A WARRANT TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS TO PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE.

THEY'VE ALSO WRITTEN NEW AND REFRESHED TRAINING TO ACCOMPANY THOSE POLICIES.

NEWARK ALSO HAS A BIAS FREE POLICING POLICY AND TRAINING THAT ACCOMPANIES IT.

SO YOU'VE GOT THOSE POLICIES.

YOU HAVE THAT TRAINING.

THEY'RE GIVING ATTENTION NOW TO AN AREA THAT IS OFTEN NEGLECTED BY POLICE ORGANIZATIONS BUT NOT BY THE NEWARK PD.

THAT IS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WHAT IS IT?

MOST DEPARTMENTS DON'T HAVE A POLICY THAT COVERS IT.

IN FACT, WHAT IS IT?

IT'S NOT COMMUNITY POLICING.

IT'S NOT BETTER PATROLS.

HOW DO YOU ENGAGE WITH A COMMUNITY ON A PRECINCT BY PRECINCT LEVEL?

IDENTIFY THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THAT COMMUNITY, IN THAT PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD AND GET TO KNOW THEM AND THEY GET TO KNOW THE COMMANDERS AND OFFICERS IN A PARTICULAR PRECINCT AS WELL AS THE YOUTH.

YOU HAVE A YOUTH ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY.

NEWARK IS GIVING CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION TO THAT RIGHT NOW AS A MATTER OF FACT.

>> WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS FOR REAL CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD HAPPENING IN NEWARK OR ANY OTHER TOWN?

>> WELL, YOU HAVE ONE CREATED BY THE CONCEPT DECREE.

IT'S PARAGRAPH 13 OF THE CONSENT DECREE.

>> WITH OVERSIGHT?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF POWER THAT YOU WANT THEM TO HAVE.

THE.

>> YEAH.

>> OUR SUPREME COURT HAS SAID YOU CANNOT GIVE THE POWER TO CONDUCT THEIR OWN PARALLEL DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS WHEN YOU HAVE INTERNAL AFFAIRS IN A POLICE ORGANIZATION AND YOU HAVE A DISCIPLINARY RECALL STRUCTURE THAT'S BEEN NEGOTIATED WITH THE UNIONS.

WHAT THE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CAN DO IS THEY CAN REVIEW TRENDS, THEY CAN REVIEW POLICIES, THEY CAN REVIEW TRAINING.

THEY CAN ATTEND TRAINING SESSIONS.

THEY CAN REVIEW EVERYTHING FROM WHO ARE YOU ARRESTING?

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE YOU ARRESTING?

WHAT IS THE GENDER?

WHAT IS THE RACE?

HOW HAVE YOU RESOLVED INTERNAL AFFAIRS COMPLAINTS?

HOW QUICKLY DO YOU RESOLVE THEM?

WHAT DISCIPLINE HAS BEEN IMPOSED?

THEY CAN DO A LOT OF OVERSIGHT AND REPORT OUT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, REPORT OUT TO THE MAYOR AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH POLICE LEADERSHIP WHERE THEY SEE SOMETHING OR A TREND THAT THEY DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE.

SO THERE'S SOME REAL AUTHORITY THERE, BUT IT MAY NOT BE WHAT MANY WANT THAT OVERSIGHT ENTITY TO HAVE, BUT THERE IS REAL RESPONSIBILITY AND REAL AUTHORITY.

IT HAS TO BE EXERCISED THOUGH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

STILL SOME WAYS TO GO.

PETER HARVEY, ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK TO YOU, MAN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THANKS FOR THE INVITATION, DAVID.

STAY WELL.

>> YOU, TOO.

>>> PANEL, COLLEEN, SEAN, DAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

SEAN, YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS PATERSON STORY.

TRAGEDY AND IRONY ABOUNDING THERE, NO?

A CRISIS WORKER IN CRISIS.

HIS COLLEAGUES STANDING BY TO HELP BUT NOT ALLOWED TO?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I'VE REMARKED A COUPLE TIMES THIS WEEK IF YOU HAD WRITTEN THIS IN A MOVIE, YOU WOULD HAVE REJECTED IT AS TOO TRO TRITE.

THE IDEA THAT SOMEBODY WHO DEDICATED THEIR CAREER, THEIR LIFE TO WORKING TO STOP VIOLENCE ON THE STREETS ACTUALLY SURVIVED A SHOOTING HIMSELF PREVIOUSLY TO THEN, YOU KNOW, BE SHOT DURING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

JUST COMPOUNDING TRAGEDY REALLY.

>> COLLEEN, PUBLIC SAFETY WAS A THING FOR A MINUTE IN THE LEGISLATURE, BUT IN AN ELECTION YEAR PROSPECTS FOR MOVEMENT ON CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER POLICE REFORM ISSUES.

NOT MUCH ENERGY FOR THAT RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

>> I MEAN, I WOULD THINK NOT BECAUSE THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION AND THE REPUBLICANS TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, GO CRIME, ANTI-CRIME IS ONE OF THEIR THINGS SO I DON'T THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, PUT FORWARD ANY OF THESE MEASURES THAT MAKE THEM LOOK SOFTER ON CRIME FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, NOT THAT THAT'S THE CASE.

CERTAINLY THIS INCIDENT AND PAST INCIDENTS MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF A CHANGE BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE IS NOT WORKING.

>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH IN THE WEEKS TO COME IS DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED THE ARRIVE TOGETHER PROGRAM, DOUBLING DOWN ON THAT.

I THINK THE QUESTION -- THE REAL POLICY DEBATE THAT COMES OUT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE RESPONSE.

PETER HARVEY REFERRED TO WHO'S IN CHARGE WHEN THEY RESPOND THERE?

YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS WHO AT THE PATERSON HEALING COLLECTIVE WHERE HE WORKED HAVE SAID POLICE REALLY AREN'T THE FOLKS WHO SHOULD BE LEADING THE CHARGES HERE.

THEY POINT TO THIS WRITTEN -- THE RESPONSE, IN THIS CASE THE FIVE-HOUR STANDOFF THEY SAY THEY WERE TURNED AWAY AS EVIDENCE OF THAT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE ARRIVE TOGETHER PROGRAM STILL PUTS POLICE IN CHARGE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

>> NOT MUCH ENERGY SINCE NOW BUDGET SEASON HAS BEGAN.

DAN, YOU'RE THE BUSINESS GUY.

LET'S FIGURE OUT THIS BUDGET FOR LAWMAKERS.

LET'S START WITH NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.

COVID MONEY HAS STAVED OFF THE INEVITABLE WHICH CAN BE A DEDICATED TAX TO FUND THE AGENCY OR CRAZY YEARLY FARE INCREASES.

ARE LAWMAKERS EVEN TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT?

>> IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT.

IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOME SORT OF, QUOTE, FINE PRINT MONEY COMING FROM THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AUTHORITY THAT'S GOING TO NEW JERSEY TRANSIT THROUGH I BELIEVE 2028, BUT THAT'S NOT LEGISLATION, THAT'S NOT GUARANTEED INTO LAW, THAT'S THE MEMORANDUM OF A -- TONGUE TWISTER, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

SO THAT COULD BE UNDONE IF THE ECONOMY SOURS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A RECESSION COMING UP.

GOING INTO COVID, WE -- THE LEGISLATURE HAD WANTED TO HAVE A DEDICATED SOURCE OF FUNDING.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

STEVE SWEENEY AND LORETTA WIENWI WINEBERG WERE PUSHING THAT.

THEY'RE NO LONGER IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> YOU SAW WHAT IT GOT THEM.

COLLEEN, IT AIN'T TAX SEASON UNLESS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL FUNDING.

YOU HAD A PIECE ON THE WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR HAS TAUTED THAT ONCE AGAIN WE'RE HAVING RECORD HIGH SCHOOL FUNDING.

IT'S GOING UP.

IT'S $830 MILLION, AND WE'RE A YEAR AWAY.

THEY CERTAINLY ARE HOPING TO GET TO WHAT IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED FULL SCHOOL FUNDING, FULLY FUNDING THE SCHOOL AID FORMULA, WHICH IS A PRETTY COMPLICATED FORMULA.

I CAN'T SAY I UNDERSTAND ALL OF IT, BUT WHEN YOU PUT IT DOWN INTO THE NUMBERS, 400 DISTRICTS ARE GETTING AN INCREASE AND I'M SURE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS HAPPY TO BE GETTING MORE MONEY.

BUT YOU'VE GOT MORE THAN A QUARTER OF THE DISTRICTS, ABOUT 157, THAT ARE GETTING A DECREASE IN AID.

IN SOME CASES, THAT IS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

IN JERSEY CITY'S CASE IT'S TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AND THAT IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM THEN WHEN YOU GET TO THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS AND -- I MEAN, IT MEANS PROPERTY TAX INCREASE OR IT MEANS STAFF CUTS.

MAYBE IT MEANS BOTH.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, IT BEARS REPEATING THAT THE PEOPLE WHO PAY FOR THE LOCAL SCHOOLS ARE THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS.

SEAN, THERE'S 90 MILLION, I THINK, IN THE BUDGET FOR A NEW WOMEN'S DETENTION CENTER TO REPLACE EDNA MANN.

WHAT'S THE REST OF THAT STORY?

>> WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE STORY IS THAT AFTER YEARS OF FAILING TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, SEX ABUSE AND CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS FINALLY GOT A PLAN IN PLACE TO REPLACE EDNA MAHAN AND, YOU KNOW, MOVE THE FACILITY ELSE ELSEWHERE.

THE INMATES, MANY OF WHOM COME FROM THE CITY'S -- THE URBAN CENTERS AND PUT THEM CLOSER TO THEIR FAMILY.

EDNA MAHAN IS WAY OUT IN HUNTER COUNTY AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS TO VISIT THERE.

IT DOES SEEM LIKE NOW THAT THE TIDE IS TURNING.

I TUNED IN TO A MEETING WITH THE FEDERAL MONITOR THAT EDNA MAHAN HAS IN ADDITION TO NEWARK.

OUR REPORT IS THAT THE STATE IS IT COMPLYING WITH ALL OF THE DEMANDS THAT THEY MADE IN THE COMPLAINT THAT THEY FILED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AGAINST THE STATE WHICH FOUND RAMPANT CIVIL RIGHTS ABUSES.

>> COLLEEN, YOU ALSO HAVE A PIECE ABOUT OUTRAGE OVER THE REINSTATEMENT OF A CORRECTION'S OFFICER CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT THERE.

WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

>> SO IT'S -- AS SEAN POINTED OUT, THE FACILITY IS UNDER A FEDERAL MONITOR BECAUSE OF SEXUAL ABUSE, SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES.

AND THE IRONY HERE IS THAT THE MAN WHO IS AT LEAST AT THE APPELLATE DIVISION LEVEL NOW, THE CASE COULD STILL GO TO THE SUPREME COURT AND THEY COULD DECIDE DIFFERENTLY, BUT THIS FORMER CORRECTIONS OFFICER IS ONE OF THOSE WHO WAS PART OF SEVEN WHO KIND OF BROUGHT THIS ALL TO LIGHT.

IT WAS -- THERE WAS SEVEN OFFICERS BACK IN 2016 WHO WERE ARRESTED AND CHARGED.

THIS GENTLEMAN FOUGHT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

HE WAS ACQUITTED OR FOUND NOT GUILTY OF THE CRIMINAL CHARGES AND THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WHEN HE COMPLAINED TO THEM THAT HE WAS FIRED SAID, YEAH, MAYBE FIRING WAS A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR TO GO.

WE WILL JUST -- YOU KNOW, WE SUGGEST A SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION WITH BACK PAY AND THE APPELLATE DIVISION AGREED WITH THAT.

BUT THE TRUSTEES OF THE FACILITY AND THE COMMISSIONER OF THE D.O.C.

HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, TO LET SOMEONE BACK IN WHO AT THE VERY LEAST ADMITTED TO KISSING ANOTHER INMATE.

HE SAYS IT WAS JUST FOR A COUPLE SECONDS, SHE KISSED HIM.

THERE'S A MUCH LONGER STORY THERE, BUT IT CERTAINLY BRINGS THE QUESTION, WELL, HOW -- YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH CAN THE D.O.C.

CONTROL THIS WHEN THEY'RE TRYING VERY DESPERATELY TO STOP THIS CULTURE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AT THE FACILITY.

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

SWITCHING GEARS QUICKLY HERE.

DAN, YOU HAD AN INTERESTING PIECE ABOUT THE BIGGEST CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMPLAINTS OVER THE PAST YEAR.

18,000?

>> YES.

>> WHAT WERE SOME OF THE BIGGEST?

>> SOME OF THE BIGGEST HAD TO DO WITH AUTOMOBILES, PREDATORY TOWING.

AUTOMOBILES.

CAR CENTERS.

CAR SALES.

CARS NOT HONORING CAR SALE PRICES.

SHODDY CAR REPAIRS.

THINGS ALSO HAVING TO DO WITH INTERNET APPLIANCES.

SHODDY CAR -- SHODDY -- A LOT OF CARS.

>> YEAH.

>> SHOTTY CONTRACTORS.

>> BEING A CAR CULTURE.

>> RIGHT.

>> HOW MUCH OF THESE GET RESOLVED?

>> SOME DO.

THE THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS GIVES A NUMBER AND AN ONLINE COMPLAINT FORM SO THAT YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR COMPLAINT AND SO THAT IT-FOLLOWED -- SO THAT IT CAN BE FOLLOWED UP WITH.

SO IF YOU HAVE BEEN SCAMMED, YOU HAVE BEEN CHEATED YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR COMPLAINT TO THE OAG, CONSUMER AFFAIRS.

>> THE SEASON OF PUSHING OUT THE OLD GUY CONTINUES.

ANOTHER INCUMBENT RETIRING THIS YEAR.

MERCY COUNTY EXECUTIVE BRIAN HUGHES SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

HE'S GIVING WAY TO ASSEMBLYMAN DAN BENSON ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE ANYWAY.

IS THERE RIPPLE EFFECT COMING?

HAVE ALL THE DOMINOS YET TO FALL IN NEW JERSEY AS WE HEAD INTO LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS?

>> THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A MESS.

SO, ASSEMBLYMAN LYNN D'ANGELO HAD ACTUALLY BACKED BRIAN HUGHES IN HIS RE-ELECTION BID, WHICH NOW HAS ENDED BECAUSE BENSON GOT THE NOMINATION OF THE MERCER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC MACHINE.

AND SO D'ANGELO THEN WOUND UP THE ODD MAN OUT INSTEAD OF GETTING NOMINATED, AGAIN, FOR HIS POSITION IN THE ASSEMBLY.

THE COMMITTEE CHOSE TWO NEWCOMERS.

SO D'ANGELO FINISHED THIRD AND THEN BENSON TURNED AROUND THOUGH AND DECIDED HE WOULD NOMINATE -- OR HE WOULD BACK D'ANGELO SO, YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A MESS.

D'ANGELO IS STILL GOING TO BE ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AT LEAST IN THEIR COLUMN ON THE BALLOT.

SO THERE'S A CHANCE THAT HE COULD STILL GET BACK -- YOU KNOW, WIN HIS PRIMARY, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE PARTY LINE OFTEN IS VERY POWERFUL IN THE STATE.

>> YEAH.

IT REALLY IS A TANGLED WEB THAT THEY WEAVE IN THIS THING.

MY GOODNESS.

>>> IT'S TIME FOR OUR ONLY IN JERSEY MOMENT, HEADLINES AND NOTES THAT ARE QUINTESSENTIALLY JERSEY.

DAN, LET'S START WITH YOU.

HAVE YOU GOT ONE FOR US?

>> YUP.

SO A PIECE OF THE "U.S.S.

MAINE," HISTORIC BATTLESHIP THAT EXPLODED IN THE 1890s, 1898 IN CUBA FOUND ITS WAY TO NEW JERSEY TO A GARAGE SALE IN 2000 TURNED OUT TO BE AN ACTUAL PIECE OF THE "U.S.S.

MAINE."

IT'S GOING TO BE DONATED TO THE ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.

>> REMEMBER THE MAINE.

COLLEEN AND I WERE JUST TEENS DURING THAT TIME.

COLLEEN, YOU GOT ONE FOR US?

>> YEAH.

THIS ONE KIND OF TAKES US TO THE WORLD OF GEOPOLITICS.

I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW OF THE UNITED STATES OF I'M GOING TO PRONOUNCE IT -- KAYALASA.

CERTAINLY NEWARK THOUGHT THEY DID.

NEWARK BACK IN JANUARY ENTERED INTO A SISTER CITY AGREEMENT WITH THIS PLACE THAT AS IT TURNS OUT DOESN'T REALLY EXIST.

SO SIX DAYS LATER SOMEONE IN CITY HALL FIGURED OUT THAT, OOPS, THIS ISN'T REALLY A PLACE, BUT THIS WAS AFTER MAYOR BOURACA HAD A CEREMONY WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS, YOU KNOW, NOT REAL COUNTRY.

>> RIGHT.

>> NO ONE EVEN KNOWS WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE LOCATED, AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THE GUY WHO'S, YOU KNOW, BEHIND ALL OF THIS IS REALLY KIND OF A SCAM ARTIST, ALTHOUGH HE CALLS HIMSELF THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM AND HE'S ACTUALLY WANTED IN INDIA FOR SOME PRETTY BAD CRIMES, INCLUDING SEXUAL ASSAULT.

KIND OF EMBARRASSING FOR NEWARK.

>> PROPS TO LOCAL NEWS, BY THE WAY, FOR BREAKING THAT STORY.

SEAN, YOU GOT ONE FOR US?

>> YEAH.

SURE.

YOU KNOW, THE SUPREME COURT ISSUED AN ORDER THIS WEEK CONCERNING A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE BY THE NAME OF THERESA MULLEN.

YOU KNOW, THIS CASE JUST CAUGHT MY EYE.

IT'S BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE COURTS FOR A WHILE NOW, BUT THIS JUDGE WAS ACCUSED OF JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH PULLING RANK AT THEIR CHILDREN'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, INVOKING THEIR STATUS AS A JUDGE IN A DISPUTE THERE.

AND I JUST THINK THERE'S NOTHING MORE NEW JERSEY THAN DOING THE DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM IN A SCHOOL DISPUTE.

YOU HAVE -- YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT PARENTS GET A LITTLE BIT CRAZY WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR KIDS, AND THE PULLING OF JUDICIAL RANK THERE JUST SETS IT APART.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

MINE COMES FROM HOPEFULLY NCAA TOURNAMENT BOUND RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.

CENTER CLIFF OMARUGEE WHO DESPITE ONLY HAVING STARTED PLAYING BASKETBALL AT THE AGE OF 14 IS SO GOOD NOW THAT HE'S A FINALIST FOR THE KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR AWARD.

SO GOOD THAT HE EARNED $25,000 IN ENDORSEMENT MONEY BUT THE STORY IS NOT THAT HE EARNED $25,000 IN ENDORSEMENT MONEY BUT THAT HE TOOK THAT 25K AND DONATED IT TO REHAB THE BASKETBALL COURT AT THE SALVATION ARMY CENTER IN NEWARK.

THAT'S WHERE MOHAMED OLIVER WORKS AS A VOLUNTEER WITH THE BASKETBALL COURT.

HE TOOK HIM IN, BECAME HIS LEGAL GUARDIAN IN THE STATES AND TAUGHT HIM HOW TO PLAY BALL.

HE SAYS OLIVER CHANGED HIS LIFE AND THAT THIS GRAND GESTURE WAS JUST A SMALL WAY TO SAY THANK YOU.

THROW IT DOWN, BIG MAN.

GO RUTGERS.

AND THAT'S "ROUNDTABLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

COLLEEN, SEAN, DAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ROUNDTABLENJ AND YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE TO THE STHYOUTUBE CHANNEL.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

MJM INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE.

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.

REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES AND THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

AND BY POLITICO'S NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK.

A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS.

ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.