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TRENTON – Attorney General Peter C. Harvey today released the 11th Independent Monitors’ Report (353k pdf - free pdf plugin), which notes that, again, no evidence of racial profiling by the State Police was found by the monitoring team, and praises the State Police for having made “remarkable progress” in such key areas as field operations, Trooper training, and personnel supervision.

Filed Monday with a federal judge, the new Monitors’ Report indicates that -- for the first time since monitoring of State Police began under a 1999 federal Consent Decree -- the State Police have accomplished all field-operations-related tasks outlined in the Consent Decree.

In addition, the Report indicates that State Police motor vehicle stops reviewed by the monitoring team were “remarkably trouble free,” and that incidents in which Troopers conducted consent searches, deployed drug-sniffing dogs or used force in dealing with suspects were found in each case to have been executed professionally and for legitimate cause.

“The latest Monitor’s Report is testimony to the dedication, professionalism and commitment to excellence of the New Jersey State Police,” said Attorney General Harvey. “Over time, each subsequent monitoring report has verified the continuing compliance of the State Police with the tasks of the federal Consent Decree. But this 11th installment paints the most positive picture yet of a quality law enforcement organization embracing historic change.”

The new Monitoring Report reflects information compiled during a six-month period spanning April 1, 2004 through September 30, 2004 by Independent Monitors Dr. James Ginger and Albert Rivas, Esq., who as part of their work conducted a variety of on-site review activities .

In describing State Police field operations during the six-month monitoring period, the Monitors refer to evidence of “rapid, meaningful and focused improvements,” including “a cadre of newly-trained or retrained supervisors who exhibit a commitment to fair and impartial review of activity in the field.”

In the area of Trooper training, the Monitors point to “improvements in virtually all areas ...”

The report notes that, “The Monitors find the focus, attention to detail, commitment of resources and results achieved by the (State Police) Academy this period to be exceptional. They reflect a strong commitment to, and interest in, the training function by the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.”

The Monitors’ Report also praises the State Police for progress in the area of Consent-Decree-related supervision.

Daniel Giaquinto, director of State Police Affairs in the Attorney General’s Office, noted that the Monitoring Team was impressed by the performance of State Police supervisors. In reviewing in excess of 200 car-stop-related actions by Troopers, Supervisors had a 98 percent efficiency rate in identifying Trooper errors.

The Monitors’ Report describes new State Police supervisory initiatives as “reflective of a strong commitment to the supervisory function ... to a level heretofore not observed by the monitoring team.”

The report also commends the State for continued progress in developing a state-of-the-art, and first of its kind, personnel performance and management system known as MAPPS. Functional since Jan. 1, 2004, MAPPS is being used to manage operations on a day-to-day basis.

“The system can be used to review Trooper and supervisory performance, compare Trooper performance to other members of the Trooper’s work group, and to compare performance across work groups,” the monitors note.

While generally praising MAPPS, the Monitors’ Report does raise concerns that an official record of first-time or minor incidents is not always as readily accessible as other information. Giaquinto said the State Police will continue to work to refine and strengthen the newly-created MAPPS system, which is the first of its kind in the nation.

He noted that the performance of road Troopers continues to be reviewed by first-line supervisors, field operations supervisory review personnel, personnel from the State Police quality assurance bureau, the Office of State Police Affairs, and the Independent Monitors.

“While there is still more work to be done, this report makes plain that the State Police are working diligently at every level to achieve compliance with the Consent Decree, and that the agency has already made substantial progress,” said Attorney General Harvey.

>> See all of the Independent Monitors' Reports

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