>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY -- NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

THE FUEL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY, THE NATIONAL OIL HEAT RESEARCH ALLIANCE AND BIOHEAT, THE EVOLUTION OF OIL HEAT.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ, A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

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ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.com.

♪ ♪ >>> HI, EVERYBODY.

THIS IS "CHAT BOX."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

HAPPY TO BE BACK WITH YOU.

NEW JERSEY'S LONGEST SERVING ATTORNEY GENERAL IN A QUARTER CENTURY IS ABOUT TO LEAVE HIS JOB.

HE HAS SERVED THROUGHOUT SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED, AND HE JOINS US NOW ON "CHAT BOX" TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE.

GENERAL, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I'M SURE YOU HAD A LOT OF US REPORTER TYPES CALLING, SO THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> WELL, GOOD TO SEE YOU, .

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO TALK TO YOU.

>> WERE YOU LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB?

WAS THE PLAN ALWAYS TO SERVE ONE TERM?

HOW DOES ONE GET RECRUITED TO HEAD UP THE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION OF THE SCC?

>> THERE'S A GREAT QUESTION AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME THAT QUESTION.

I WAS NOT LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB.

I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO FINISHING OUT MY TERM AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE GOVERNOR ABOUT MY FUTURE PLANS AND TO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT TERM WITH HIM SHOULD HE BE RE-ELECTED, AND THEN I GOT THIS OPPORTUNITY.

IT WAS NOT ANYTHING I WAS OUT THERE CAMPAIGNING FOR OR PUTTING MY NAME OUT FOR.

THEY SAW THE WORK THAT WE WERE DOING HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

THEY APPRECIATED THE WAY WE APPROACHED OUR WORK HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND I HAD A CONVERSATION, AND THAT LED TO THIS PARTICULAR OPPORTUNITY.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> I WANT TO TRY TO COVER GRAYWALL'S GREATEST HITS, IF WE CAN.

THERE WAS A TIME BEFORE COVID, I'M SURE YOU CAN BARELY REMEMBER, WHEN YOU WERE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

HOW MUCH DID THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC CHANGE WHAT YOU HAD PLANNED FOR THIS OFFICE?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT CHANGED OUR PRIORITIES.

WE'VE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON THE SAME CORE PRIORITIES.

IT IS IMPROVING POLICE/COMMUNITY RELATIONS, IT IS FIGHTING GUN VIOLENCE, IT IS TACKLING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, IT IS STANDING UP FOR OUR RESIDENTS IN COURT.

WHAT COVID CHANGED IS HOW WE WENT ABOUT THAT, AND SO WE HAD TO BECOME AGILE.

IN THE MIDST OF COVID WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH FOR OUR NEW USE OF FORCE POLICY.

INSTEAD OF MEETING RESIDENTS IN PERSON IN COMMUNITY CENTERS WE MET THEM ONLINE IN VIRTUAL SETTINGS.

WE CONTINUED TO PUSH FORWARD ON OUR SAME PRIORITIES, BUT JUST IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

>> AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE WAS DONALD TRUMP.

DID YOU FEEL LIKE THE 45th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WAS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY?

>> WELL, I CERTAINLY DID OVER THE LAST THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS, AND WE SAW THAT THREAT IN FULL EFFECT O ON JANUARY 6th AT THE CAPITOL.

I VIEWED HIS POLICIES BY ASKING TWO QUESTIONS, AND THOSE QUESTIONS WERE, YOU KNOW, IS THE ADMINISTRATION DOING SOMETHING UNLAWFUL AND IS IT AFFECTING OUR RESIDENTS.

INCREASINGLY WE WERE ANSWERING YES TO BOTH OF THOUGH QUESTIONS, AND SO WE USED THE TOOLS OF OUR OFFICE TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION WHEN IT CAME TO THE ENVIRONMENT, WHEN IT CAME TO OUR IMMIGRANT BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHEN IT CAME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND HOW THEY APPROACHED STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS, WHEN IT CAME TO THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THE POLICIES, NOT THE PERSON.

WE STOOD UP WHEN IT AFFECTED NEW JERSEY, AND I'M THANKFUL OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS HERE MET THAT CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE ARE BETTER FOR IT.

>> IMMIGRATION WAS USED AS A TRIGGER AND AS A WEDGE ISSUE.

TALK OF SO-CALLED SANCTUARY CITIES AND STATE.

AS YOU SAY, YOU DROVE INTO -- YOU DOVE INTO THAT AS WELL, ISSUING DIRECTIVES TO LOCAL POLICE NOT TO COOPERATE WITH I.C.E.

IMMIGRATION IS A FEDERAL ISSUE THOUGH.

WHY WOULD YOU GET INVOLVED IN THAT?

>> WELL, IT GOES DOWN TO TRUST, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S WHAT THE BOTTOM LINE IS.

WHEN RESIDENTS DON'T TRUST LAW ENFORCEMENT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME AND REPORT CRIMES, AND WE FELT THAT THE POLICIES THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS PUSHING FORWARD, WHERE THEY WERE USING LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FURTHER THEIR IMMIGRATION AGENDA WAS BLURRING THAT LINE BETWEEN OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND FEDERAL CIVIL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.

THAT WAS PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM COMING FORWARD.

ABUSERS WERE NOT TESTIFYING IN COURT.

PEOPLE WERE NOT COMING FORWARD TO TESTIFY AGAINST AN UNSCRUPULOUS BOSS OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT BY COMING TO A LOCAL COP THEY WO WOULD END UP IN A I.C.E.

DETENTION FACILITY.

WE WANTED TO DRAW A BRIGHT, CLEAR LINE AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE DO TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THIS IS WHAT THE FEDERAL CIVIL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES DO ON THE OTHER HAND TO CARRY FORWARD THEIR MISSION.

LET THEM DO THEIR WORK, WE WILL DO OUR WORK.

THAT'S WHAT THAT POLICY WAS ABOUT, AND THAT'S WHY YOU SAW IT HAD WIDE SCALE SUPPORT AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS, RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND OTHERS, BECAUSE IT IMPROVES PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN FOLKS CAN TRUST THEIR COPS AND FEEL COMFORTABLE APPROACHING THEM.

THAT'S WHY I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN DOING THEIR BIDDING.

I WANTED TO FOCUS ON OUR CORE RESPONSIBILITIES HERE.

>> SO RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS COMES THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, AN ABSOLUTE GLOBALLY STREAMED LYNCHING.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IMPACT THAT HAD ON YOU AS HEAD OF PUBLIC LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE, BUT ALSO ON YOU PERSONALLY?

WHAT IMPACT DID IT HAVE ON YOUR POSITION AS AN A.G. AS WELL?

>> LISTEN, I THINK LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I SAW MURDER ON TAPE WHEN THAT HAPPENED, AND I WAS JUST SHAKEN TO MY CORE BECAUSE I SAW OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS STAND BY WHILE A FOURTH KILLED A HUMAN BEING, SQUEEZED THE LIFE OUT OF A HUMAN BEING.

THAT REINFORCED IN ME THAT IN NEW JERSEY WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH IN OUR POLICIES AND TRAINING TO IMPROVE POLICING AND TO INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY, TO MAKE SURE THINGS LIKE THAT DON'T HAPPEN IN OUR STATE.

SO FOR ME IT SPED UP THE WORK THAT WE HAD BEEN DOING.

WE HAD LAUNCHED EXCELLENCE IN POLICING IN 2019, A WHOLE HOST OF POLICIES FOCUSING ON INCREASING PROFESSIONALISM, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

WHEN I SAW THE VIDEO OF MR. FLOYD'S KILLING, I WANTED TO MOVE FOR QUICKLY AND I WANTED TO MOVE FOR QUICKLY ON REVAMPING OUR STATE'S USE OF FORCE POLICY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC IN 2019, WE REVAMPED, REVISED A 20-YEAR-OLD USE-OF-FORCE POLICY THAT DIDN'T REFLECT OUR VALUES AS A STATE TODAY AND DIDN'T REFLECT THE BEST POSSIBLE TRAINING AND TECHNIQUES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

SO THROUGH THAT UNDERTAKING, WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, DONE VIRTUALLY WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WE ENGAGED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS.

WE'VE COME UP WITH THE BEST-IN-CLASS USE-OF-FORCE POLICY, TRAINING PROGRAM WHICH OUR COPS ARE UNDERGOING RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S GOING TO ENSURE THAT IN NEW JERSEY WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE SCENES LIKE THAT PLAYING OUT IN OUR STATE.

>> YOU GOT SOME CRITICISM FOR HAVING BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF KEEPING INTERNAL POLICE RECORDS PRIVATE AND YOU OPPOSED MANDATORY INVESTIGATIONS INTO DEATHS IN POLICE CUSTODY.

THOSE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT CHANGED AFTER THIS GEORGE FLOYD MURDER, NO?

>> WELL, I THINK CERTAINLY ON TRANSPARENCY OF POLICE DISCIPLINARY RECORDS, WE TOOK A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

WE UNDERSTOOD HOW WE HAD TO REALLY BE MORE TRANSPARENT IN THAT SPACE, TO BUILD THAT TRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY SO COMMUNITY MEMBERS UNDERSTAND HOW WE HOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABLE, BECAUSE THAT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE DISCIPLINARY HISTORIES OF THOSE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN MI MINNEAPOLIS.

SO WE TOOK STEPS AS A RESULT OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST SUMMER TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY.

IT WAS MET BY A LOT OF RESISTANCE.

FRANKLY, I WAS SURPRISED BY IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT POLICE EXECUTIVES AND OTHERS WOULD SUPPORT THIS AND WANT TO SHOW THE PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO HOLD FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE.

WE PREVAILED IN THE SUPREME COURT, AND SO MOVING FORWARD WE WILL HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE FOLKS WHO WANT TO GO FURTHER THAN WE'VE GONE, BUT I THINK INCREMENTALLY WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON POLICE TRANSPARENCY.

AND THEN ON THE INVESTIGATION OF FATAL OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS, CERTAINLY I PUSHED BACK INITIALLY WHEN THE LEGISLATION WAS CONSIDERED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, NOT LAST YEAR BUT BEFORE THEN, TO BRING ALL OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS TO MY OFFICE AND TAKE THEM FROM OUR COUNTY PROSECUTORS.

I THOUGHT WE HAD A GREAT SYSTEM IN PLACE BEFORE THAT LEGISLATION WHICH CALLED ON OUR COUNTY PROSECUTORS TO DO A CONFLICTS CHECK AND TO BE THE PRIMARY INVESTIGATORS, AND THEN WE AS AN A.G.'S OFFICE REVIEW THOSE INVESTIGATIONS BEFORE A FINAL DETERMINATION IS MADE, BUT I SAW LAST SUMMER HOW I CAN'T SUBSTITUTE MY JUDGMENT SOMETIMES FOR WHAT A COMMUNITY MAY FEEL, THAT A POLICY ALONE IS NOT GOING TO REBUILD TRUST, THAT I COULD SAY WE HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY TO INVESTIGATE THESE CASES OVER HERE, BUT IF COMMUNITY MEMBERS DON'T BELIEVE IT, IF THE TRUST ISN'T THERE, THEN IT IS ON ME TO BUILD A BETTER SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE, AND WE EMBRACED THAT LEGISLATION AND WE BUILT OUT AN EVEN BETTER SYSTEM NOW.

>> I READ SOMEWHERE IN AN INTERVIEW WITH YOU WHERE YOU SAID THAT AFTER THESE EVENTS IT REALLY HIT HOME HOW SYSTEMIC OR INSTITUTIONAL RACISM WAS SO BAKED INTO EVERYTHING.

WE ARE TALKING WITH EDDIE GLAUDE ON "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" THIS WEEK ABOUT THIS RECKONING AND THE NEED FOR A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE PROCESS OF DISMANTLING IT AND HOW POLICE REFORMS ARE REALLY AT THE CENTER OF THIS PROCESS.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED PROFESSOR GLAUDE.

I READ HIS BOOK EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC, "BEGIN AGAIN," AND I THINK IT HELPED OPEN UP MY EYES TO HOW DEEP A PROBLEM THIS WAS AND HOW, AS PROFESSOR GLAUDE FRAMES IT, WE ARE AT THE THIRD FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY.

WE HAD OUR ORIGINAL FOUNDING.

RECONSTRUCTION WAS OUR SECOND CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT, AND THIS IS OUR THIRD CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT.

I THINK THAT UNDERSCORES THE URGENCY OF THE MOMENT FOR ME, THAT I HAD TO REALLY RETHINK THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WE'RE IMPLEMENTING, HOW WE COULD LEVERAGE OUR TOOLS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES OF RAICE INJUSTICE.

I THINK IT HELPED ME UNDERSTAND HOW 400-PLUS YEARS OF HISTORY, THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION, OF JIM CROW AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, OF THE WAR ON DRUGS AND MASS INCARCERATION, LEAVES DEEP AND LASTING EFFECTS ON ALL SYSTEMS, NOT JUST POLICING.

YOU LOOK AT OUR ECONOMY.

YOU LOOK AT HOUSING.

YOU LOOK IN THE WAKE OF COVID ON OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND YOU LOOK IN THE WAKE OF COVID WHAT THE AFTER EFFECT WILL BE ON OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM AND HOW THESE DISPARITIES WITH THE TECHNOLOGY GAPS THAT WE SAW HIGHLIGHTED AS A RESULT OF COVID.

YOU KNOW, MY KIDS, YOU KNOW, HAVE PERFECT Wi-Fi BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY AND BRING, YOU KNOW, MORE BAND WIDTH INTO THE HOME.

HOW MANY OTHER FAMILIES STRUGGLED WITH THAT?

HOW DID THAT IMPACT THE LEARNING THAT WAS GOING ON IN THOSE HOMES?

THAT'S GOING TO HAVE AN EFFECT ON ALL MANNER OF SYSTEMS.

SO IT HELPED ME RETHINK HOW I WAS LOOKING AT THESE ISSUES ON HOW WE REALLY NEEDED TO SEIZE THE URGENCY OF THIS MOMENT AND USE THE TOOLS WE HAVE HERE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AS BEST WE CAN, AND I'M GLAD YOU ARE TALKING TO HIM.

HE'S A TRANSFORMATIONAL FIGURE, AND THAT BOOK WAS REALLY TRANSFORMATIVE WITH RESPECT TO THE WAY I VIEWED THINGS.

>> TALK ABOUT LEARNING, EDUCATION, TEACHING, AND HE AND I DISCUSSED A LOT ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

YOU'VE ADVOCATED FOR BROADER CONTEXT IN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, BUT ALSO IN THE TRAINING OF POLICE OFFICERS TO RECOGNIZE A LOT OF THOSE THINGS THAT POLICE ARE, IT SEEMS TO ME, ARE FRANKLY TRAINED TO NOT RECOGNIZE A LOT OF THOSE THINGS.

>> YES.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND OUR HISTORY.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT CULTURES.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE PERSPECTIVE THAT THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN OUR STATE, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY COME FROM AND THEY VIEW THE WORLD THROUGH, BECAUSE THAT HELPS US BETTER RESPOND TO ISSUES AND IT HELPS US TO BETTER ADDRESS COMMUNITY CONCERNS, AND IT LEADS TO THAT TRUST, RIGHT.

BECAUSE IT IS NOT COMPLICATED, DAVID.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT TRUST.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT TRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBER, THE YOUNG PERSON AND THE COP, AND WE ALL HAVE TO WORK ON IT.

ONCE YOU HAVE THAT, THEN THAT YOUNG PERSON IS GOING TO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE REACHING OUT TO THAT COP, THAT COP IS GOING TO BE MORE COMFORTABLE TALKING TO THAT YOUNG PERSON OR THAT COMMUNITY MEMBER.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WHEN YOU HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND YOU HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT SAFETY.

THAT'S WHAT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO WITH THOSE TYPE OF AWARENESS TRAININGS WE'RE IMPLEMENTING, INCLUDING IMPLICIT BIAS, TRYING TO HELP FOLKS RECOGNIZE THE DEEP IMPACTS THAT, YOU KNOW, 400-PLUS YEARS OF HISTORY HAVE HAD.

IT MIGHT NOT BE AN IMPLICIT BIAS, BUT IT RESULTS IN SOMETHING DEEP SEATED SOMETIMES THAT YOU MIGHT NOT RECOGNIZE, AND YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO IDENTIFY IT AND NEVER ACT ON IT.

AGAIN, NEW JERSEY IS FAR AHEAD OF THE COUNTRY ON ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS.

SOME OF THESE ARE NEW WITH ME, BUT OTHERS ARE BUILDING ON WHAT MY PREDECESSORS DID AS WELL AND WHAT MANY OF OUR CHIEFS HAVE DONE ACROSS OUR STATE.

>> YOUR OFFICE IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE COUNTRY, I READ, THAT CAN ISSUE DIRECTIVES THAT APPLY TO POLICE AND PROSECUTORS STATEWIDE.

I MEAN YOU HAVE ISSUED ORDERS ON EVERYTHING FROM MARIJUANA POSSESSION PROSECUTIONS TO I.C.E.

COOPERATION, JUVENILE DETENTION.

IT HAS NOT ALWAYS ENDEARED YOU TO POLICE OR THEIR SELF-DESCRIBED LAW-AND-ORDER CONSERVATIVE SUPPORTERS.

THE WORD ANTI-COP HAS BEEN USED.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEAR THAT I JUST FIND THAT TO BE LAZY, INACCURATE, POLITICAL, ELECTION YEAR RHETORIC.

I THINK IF YOU PEEL BACK THE LAYERS, AND IF THESE FOLKS WHO THROW AROUND THOSE TERMS ACTUALLY LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE DONE, YOU WILL SEE THAT 99.9% OF THE POLICIES WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED HAVE HAD BROAD LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT.

WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED THE USE-OF-FORCE POLICY, WE WERE JOINED BY THE HEAD OF THE POLICE UNIONS AND THE HEAD OF CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

WHEN WE PUSHED OTHER PROGRAMS LIKE THE IMMIGRANT TRUST DIRECTIVE, WE WERE JOINED BY THE CHIEFS OF OUR MAJOR CITIES AND THE PROSECUTORS FROM OUR MAJOR CITIES.

WHEN YOU PEEL BACK -- >> NOT SO MUCH ON MISCONDUCT RECORDS THOUGH, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S WHERE WE HAD THE DIFFERENCE.

THAT'S THE ONE ISSUE ON WHICH WE HAD A DIFFERENCE.

BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ANTI-COP AND YOU USE THIS LAZY RHETORIC, IT OVERLOOKS THE FACT THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS INVESTED MORE IN TOOLS AND TRAINING AND TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE POLICING, TO IMPROVE LAW ENFORCEMENT SAFETY, TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE GOVERNOR HAS SUPPORTED MORE STATE POLICE CLASSES IN THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS THAN EVER BEFORE.

WE ARE FINALLY APPROACHING 3,000 STATE TROOPERS, WITH UNIVERSAL IMPLEMENT OF BODY CAMERAS.

THAT 38,000 OFFICERS IN OUR STATE ARE GETTING BEST-IN-CLASS TRAINING ON USE-OF-FORCE.

POLICE ON THE NYPD ARE SAYING, THEY'RE DOING IT OVER THERE, WE WANT TO DO IT OVER HERE.

WE'VE USED THE DIRECTIVES AND AUTHORITY EFFECTIVELY AND BY AND LARGE IT FOUND SUPPORT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.

A LOT OF THAT GETS MUDDIED IN POLITICAL RHETORIC, BUT I WOULD HOLD OUT MY RECORD OF SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THEIR TOOLS TO DO THEIR JOB SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY AGAINST ANYBODY ELSE IN THIS STATE OR AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> LET ME GET YOU ON A COUPLE OF POLICY QUESTIONS HERE.

YOU SUPPORT NOW THE RELEASE OF POLICE MISCONDUCT RECORDS, YES?

>> I DO.

THE DIRECTIVES WE ISSUED, LET ME BE CLEAR, WHERE WE ARE GOING RIGHT NOW IS THE SUMMARY OF MAJOR DISCIPLINES.

I HAVE SUPPORTED THAT.

I HAVE AGREED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS TO FIND WAYS WHERE WE COULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRANSPARENCY WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERLYING RECORDS, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY, IN THE RIGHT CASES, IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ON WITNESSES THAT WOULD COME FORWARD.

IT DOESN'T HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ON FELLOW OFFICERS WHO MAY NOT COME FORWARD IF THEY KNOW ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO BE OUT THERE.

SO IN THE SEIDEL CASE WE MADE A DECISION TO RELEASE HIS PUBLIC FILE, YOU KNOW, HIS FILE PUBLICLY RATHER.

SO I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE DONE CAREFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY.

I DO THINK NEW JERSEY NEEDS TO CATCH UP IN THAT AREA WHERE WE'VE LAGGED BEHIND.

SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANTED TO LOOK AT MORE CAREFULLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> AND THE CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARDS WITH SUBPOENA POWER?

>> YES.

SO THE CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD, WE HAVE OFFERED A PATH FORWARD UNDER THE EXISTING LAW IF THE GOVERNOR ENACTS THE LEGISLATION, IF IT PASSES.

CERTAINLY WE WOULD SUPPORT THAT AND IMPLEMENT IT, BUT THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LEGISLATIVE FIX.

THE EXISTING LAWS DON'T ALLOW THAT TO TAKE PLACE, AND SO WE'VE ACTUALLY IN OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIRECTIVE CREATED A PATH FORWARD FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO GO FORWARD WITH THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD THAT COULD HAVE ACCESS TO POLICE RECORDS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE POLICE EXECUTIVE.

SO I THINK THAT IS A PATH FORWARD.

NO MUNICIPALITY HAS TAKEN US UP ON THAT, BUT I THINK UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE COMES UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT AFFECTS THE STATUTES THAT PREVENT US FROM GOING TO WHERE YOU ARE SUGGESTING WITH THE SUBPOENA POWER AND THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD, ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT NEWARK AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WANT TO DO, I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK TO WHAT WE'VE OFFERED AS AN ALTERNATIVE.

>> I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE TERRIBLE ARC OF THIS STORY OF THE -- OF THE MAN IN THE WOMEN'S PRISON.

I WANT TO WARN OUR VIEWERS SOME OF THE FOOTAGE YOU WILL SEE IS PRETTY GRAPHIC AND SOME OF YOU MAY FIND DISTURBING.

BUT, GENERAL, I MEAN YOU LOOK AT THAT AND YOU THINK OF THE ARC OF THIS STORY.

THIS COULD HAVE VERY WELL BEEN PREVENTED, NO?

>> I THINK IT ABSOLUTELY THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES THERE THROUGH TRAINING AND INCREASED OVERSIGHT WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE IDENTIFIED OFFICERS WHO HAD A PATTERN OF MISCONDUCT THROUGH ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT.

WE COULD HAVE PREVENTED THESE TYPE OF CELL EXTRACTIONS, THROUGH THE TYPE OF TRAINING, DAVID, THAT WE'RE OFFERING NOW TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, WHICH IS CALLED ACTIVE BY STANDERSHIP.

IT IS TO PREVENT THAT SCENE FROM MINNEAPOLIS WHERE THREE COPS SAW A FOURTH KILL A HUMAN BEING THROUGH ACTIVE BYSTANDERSHIP.

IF WE ARE CREATING COPS TO BE BYSTANDERS, TO INTERVENE WHEN THEY SEE A FELLOW OFFICER TO GO OFF THE RAILS OR TO RECEIVE INTERVENTION FROM ANOTHER OFFICER, WE COULD PREVENT A LOT OF THIS.

SO I REALLY AM HOPEFUL THAT THIS TRAINING WE ARE IMPLEMENTING STATEWIDE WOULD PREVENT THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE.

>> I ALWAYS WONDERED HOW MUCH DID INITIATIVES COME FROM YOU AND HOW MUCH THEY CAME AS A RESULT OF CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNOR EASE OFFICE?

>> LISTEN, WE HAVE -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP, A COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS SUPPORTED OUR WORK AND HE HAS RECOGNIZED OUR INDEPENDENCE IMPORTANTLY WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUES.

SO HE HAS NEVER COME CLOSE TO THAT LINE, UNLIKE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHERE THEY DIDN'T RESPECT RULES AND NORMS.

THIS GOVERNOR HAS RESPECTED THE INDEPENDENCE OF OUR OFFICE WHEN IT COMES TO POLICING ISSUES.

SO IN THAT SPACE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT OFTEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLABORATION, BUT ON THE OTHER CIVIL ENFORCEMENT MATTERS, WHETHER IT IS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, WHETHER IT IS ON PROTECTING OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THERE'S ROBUST COLLABORATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SOMEWHAT OF AN INDEPENDENT LANE, AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP THOSE POLICIES AND SOLICITED BROAD INPUT.

SO CERTAINLY HE HAS GIVEN US HIS INPUT ON THE POLICIES WHEN WE ARE ANNOUNCING THAT WE ARE REVIEWING THEM, BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS OUR DECISION AS TO THOSE POLICIES.

>> WE HEAR THAT THERE WAS FRICTION AT TIMES.

WAS THERE?

>> YOU KNOW, I'VE READ THAT AS WELL.

IF THERE WAS FRICTION, I DIDN'T EXPERIENCE IT.

I DIDN'T SEE IT.

I AM EXTREMELY HONORED THAT THE GOVERNOR CHOSE ME TO BE HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL.

I AM REALLY ENCOURAGED THAT AT A TIME WHEN, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WE SAW THE EXECUTIVE ENCROACH ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S AUTHORITIES.

THIS GOVERNOR RESPECTED RULES AND NORMS AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF THIS OFFICE.

I AM INCREDIBLY THANKFUL THAT HE SUPPORTED US, YOU KNOW, BOTH ON OUR POLICIES BUT ALSO THE OFFICE AS A WHOLE.

WHAT OFTEN GETS NEGLECTED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ARE HAVING ABOUT LEGACY AND HISTORY IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO REALLY IMPROVE MORALE HERE OF THE 7,700-PLUS EMPLOYEES IN THE DEPARTMENT ON HOW THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SUPPORTED US HIRING ADDITIONAL ATTORNEYS TO DO THE WORK THAT WE DO, HOW THEY ADDRESSED ISSUES ABOUT SALARY COMPRESSION, THINGS THAT NEVER MAKE, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC HEADLINES BUT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE WORK WE DO.

SO I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP WITH HIM THAT WILL -- THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO CARRYING ON AS I MOVE ON, AND I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR HIM AND WHAT HE HAS DONE TO MAKE THIS STATE MORE FAIR, MORE JUST, AND GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE ANY OF THIS COMES FROM.

>> LASTLY, I WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND FROM THE SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY IN JERSEY CITY AND I MENTIONED YOU.

THIS GUY IS A LITTLE MORE CONSERVATIVE SIDE, SO PROBABLY YOU WOULDN'T AGREE ON A LOT OF THINGS.

HE MENTIONED EARLY ON WHEN A CLOWN ON THE RADIO MADE A RACIST COMMENT DIRECTED AT YOU, AND HE SAID THE WAY YOU HANDLED IT WAS GRACIOUS AND PROFESSIONAL.

YOU, OF COURSE, ARE THE FIRST SIK AND FIRST INDIAN AMERICAN TO SERVE AS A.G. NOW HE SAID TO ME, WE'RE EVERYWHERE AND MORE PEOPLE JUST SEE US AS PEOPLE.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT A LITTLE BIT.

HOW DOES THAT FEEL?

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS HUMBLING, RIGHT.

IT IS HUMBLING TO HEAR THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE HEARD IT QUITE A BIT BECAUSE THERE HAS NOT BEEN THE TYPE OF REPRESENTATION IN GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY OR THE SIKH COMMUNITY AS COMPARED WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES.

LISTEN, I ENTERED INTO PUBLIC SERVICE AFTER 9/11 BOTH OUT OF A SENSE OF PATRIOTISM AND TO GIVE BACK, BUT ALSO I SAW IN THOSE DARK MOMENTS AFTER SEPTEMBER 11th HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO BE THERE FOR ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS AT TIMES OF CRISIS.

I SAW PEOPLE LIKE ME BEING TARGETED.

I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY LIKE ME IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY LIKE ME ON THE BENCH.

I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY LIKE ME IN ELECTED OFFICE.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO GO TO.

SO I DECIDED THEN AND THERE I WANTED TO BE A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR.

I WANTED TO STAND UP FOR OTHERS.

I WANTED TO PROTECT OTHERS.

IT IS WHAT I DID FOR NEARLY A DECADE AS A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR.

THAT LED ME TO BERGEN COUNTY.

BUT STATEMENT I WANTED TO ALSO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING THROUGH MY WORK, THAT WE'RE HERE.

THAT YOU CAN LOOK LIKE THIS, MAN, AND YOU CAN BE PART OF THIS COUNTRY AND PART OF THE FABRIC OF THIS COUNTRY.

THAT LED ME TO THE A.G.'S OFFICE, AND I SEE THIS NEXT JOB MUCH IN LINE WITH MY PRIOR PUBLIC SERVICE.

I'M GOING TO STAND UP FOR INVESTORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I'M GOING TO HOLD BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE.

I'M GOING TO DO IT LOOKING THE WAY I DO, BELIEVING THE WAY I DO, AND IF THE CRITICISM COMES BY CLOWNS ON THE RADIO OR CLOWNS ON TV, I WILL DEAL WITH IT THE SAME WAY.

HOPEFULLY THAT YOUNG KID WHO LOOKS LIKE ME IN THE BACK OF A CLASSROOM CAN SIT UP A LITTLE BIT STRAIGHTER AND FEEL CONFIDENT IN HIS IDENTITY, AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A THROUGH LINE THROUGH MY WORK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GREAT TO SEE YOU, MAN.

GOOD LUCK ON THE NEW GIG.

THANKS FOR ALWAYS BEING REALLY ACCOMMODATING AND AVAILABLE TO US HERE ON "CHAT BOX."

.

>> THANKS, DAVID.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE AND KEEP US ON OUR TOES AS WELL.

I APPRECIATE THE RELATIONSHIP OVER THE LAST THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS.

YOU DO EXTRAORDINARY WORK, AND NEW JERSEY AND THE NETWORK IS LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, MAN.

THANKS.

>>> THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR TODAY.

WE ARE PREEMPTED FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT WE WILL BE BACK THE WEEK AFTER THAT WITH OUR SEASON FINALE FEATURING GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY AND A VERY SPECIAL WEB-ONLY FEATURE.

I'M PRETTY SURE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WANT TO MISS THAT ONE.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @DAVIDCRUZ NJ AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YouTube CHANNEL TO GET MORE GREAT CONTENT ON REPORTERS ROUND TABLE AND "CHAT BOX."

FOR ALL OF THE CREW HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

SEE YOU IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

ENSURING THE NOODS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

THE FUEL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY, THE NATIONAL OIL HEAT RESEARCH ALLIANCE AND BIOHEAT, THE EVOLUTION OF OIL HEAT.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY "INSIDER NJ," DEDICATED TO POLITICAL NEWS.

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.com.

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