Berkeley Heights Among 16 Union County Townships That Sent Police to Private Police Training by Organization that Promoted Unconstitutional Tactics

Berkeley Heights Town CouncilBerkeley Heights Town GovernmentState Matters

The NJ Office of the State Comptroller published a supplemental report to it’s original findings published 12/06/2023 onStreet Cop Training”.  It found 240 law enforcement officers from NJ attended the six-day Conference in Atlantic City on October 2021.

Among other things, OSC found:

  • Instructors at the Conference promoted the use of unconstitutional policing tactics for motor vehicle stops;
  • Some instructors glorified violence and an excessively militaristic orwarriorapproach to policing. Other presenters spoke disparagingly of the internal affairs process; promoted anus vs. themapproach; and espoused views and tactics that would undermine almost a decade of police reform efforts in New Jersey, including those aimed at de-escalating civilian-police encounters, building trust with vulnerable populations, and increasing officers’ ability to understand, appreciate, and interact with New Jersey’s diverse population; and
  • The Conference included over 100 discriminatory and harassing remarks by speakers and instructors, with repeated references to speakers’ genitalia, lewd gestures, and demeaning quips about women and minorities. (link)

On 01/09/2025 NJ OSC published a supplemental that provided further context and concluded:

  • Over one million dollars in public funds in New Jersey was spent on Street Cop training courses and events between January 2019 and March 2023. 
  • At least 32 departments and agencies in New Jersey spent additional public funds on Street Cop training after having an officer attend the 2021 Street Cop Conference.
  • Twenty New Jersey officers were registered to attend the 2024 Street Cop Conference.
  • Street Cop’s records indicate that problematic training and content was not limited to the 2021 Conference.
  • Nationally, 49 states spent public funds to send their officers to Street Cop training courses and events between January 2019 and March 2023. (link)

Berkeley Heights NJ was one of 16 Union County Townships that spent taxpayer dollars on these problematic trainings for it’s police force.  With police departments increasing their presence in school environments in our community and two former members of law enforcement on the Town Council, this provides a basis for concerns connected to accountability in spending and oversight historically and moving forward.

Other Townships that spent taxpayer dollars on these trainings include:

Clark
Cranford
Elizabeth
Fanwood
Garwood
Hillside
Kenilworth
Linden
New Providence
Plainfield
Rahway
Roselle
Summit
Union
Westfield

link

NJ21st submitted OPRA requests for all invoices, receipts including meals and travel connected to training connected to theStreet Cop Trainingprograms.

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John Migueis

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