NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE FAILED TO ADDRESS RACIAL BIAS, REPORT REVEALS

The New Jersey State Police have come under scrutiny for not doing enough to prevent discriminatory practices within their ranks, according to a recent report by the state comptroller.

The report highlighted a troubling pattern: while the state police regularly produced detailed reports on racial profiling, they never truly addressed the data showing ongoing discrimination against racial and ethnic minorities. Acting State Comptroller Kevin Walsh pointed out that despite being aware of these issues for years, the state police did nothing to combat them, suggesting deeper systemic problems.

"This isn’t just a missed opportunity—it's a serious failure to protect people of color on our roads," Walsh said.

This report is part of an annual review mandated by a 2009 law to monitor the state police and their professional standards office. It also follows a 2023 report from the state attorney general, which found evidence of discrimination against Black and Latino drivers.

The professional standards office had repeatedly asked the state police for context or explanations for these troubling trends, but received inadequate responses. Attorney General Matt Platkin expressed his disappointment, calling the findings "inexcusable and deeply troubling."

"It’s unacceptable for any modern law enforcement agency to ignore the impact of bias, whether explicit or implicit," Platkin said.

In response, the state police asserted their commitment to accountability and public trust. Sgt. Charles Marchan noted that the force had exceeded mandated requirements and was continuously improving their data collection and analysis capabilities.

"We are constantly updating our methods to ensure accuracy and transparency," Marchan stated.

The New Jersey State Police had been under federal supervision for racial profiling allegations on state highways until 2009, when new policies were introduced to maintain oversight and curb discriminatory practices during traffic stops. Despite these measures, the recent findings indicate significant work remains to be done.