New Jersey State Police Reports Reveal Systemic Racism and Gender Discrimination

The two reports released by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office on September 24, 2024, spotlight systemic issues within the New Jersey State Police, particularly in the internal affairs and promotions processes. These investigations reveal a troubling pattern of racial and gender discrimination, as well as a culture of favoritism that undermines accountability and fairness.

One of the reports stems from a probe into the Office of Professional Standards, uncovering biased practices in how misconduct complaints are handled. It details the actions of Lt. Joseph Nitti, who mishandled an anonymous complaint involving a racist comment made about a Black trooper. Instead of investigating the complaint, Nitti expended significant resources trying to identify the letter’s author, ultimately disciplining the Black trooper based on a flawed investigation. Investigators noted that many troopers fear reporting misconduct due to potential retaliation, which highlights a culture that protects those in power.

The second report, resulting from a four-year investigation ordered in 2020, points to long-standing disparities in recruitment, promotions, and treatment of female and minority troopers. It exposes the underrepresentation of women and minorities in leadership roles and details troubling incidents of racism and sexism. Female troopers also reported inadequate facilities and a lack of proper maternity leave policies.

Attorney General Matt Platkin has vowed to implement numerous reforms, including developing alternative mechanisms for reporting misconduct, updating maternity leave policies, enhancing diversity in recruitment and promotions, and providing oversight of senior leadership. Civil rights advocates, such as the ACLU of New Jersey, have praised these steps as necessary to address deep-rooted inequities and rebuild trust within the state’s law enforcement agencies.