Civil rights panel concludes neither parents’ nor students’ rights were violated
By: Courtney Gross
In response to the arrest of four Princeton High School students who allegedly witnessed racially biased crimes that occurred in Princeton Borough in September, the joint Human Services Commission agreed that police did not violate procedure when the students were apprehended at the high school, despite allegations of discrimination and misconduct.
After the commission’s civil rights subcommittee investigated the Sept. 20 incident, the chairwoman of the Human Services Commission, Marjorie Smith, said members agreed no individual rights neither the parents’ nor the students’ were violated.
"They were within the law," Ms. Smith said of the Princeton Borough Police Department, and "there was no violation."
The investigation was precipitated by numerous robberies and beatings of Hispanics, reportedly by blacks, in early September. Vonzell Irving Kelley, 18, of Princeton, Channin Gardner, 19, of Trenton and a 17-year-old male Princeton Township resident were charged in September with numerous crimes related to the incident.
Police said they obtained witness accounts putting four black male Princeton High School students, two 14-year-olds and two 15-year-olds, at the scene.
The students were taken from school and later charged with complicity to robbery. The parents alleged the students’ apprehension from school violated their civil rights, and claimed their children were searched before being charged.
Prior to the students’ arrest, police said they had called the parents of the teenagers asking for their cooperation. Parents said they did not comply because the crimes had been connected with area gangs and they feared their children’s safety might be jeopardized if they were perceived to be cooperating with police.
But the commission’s investigation revealed the police conformed to guidelines for school districts and police departments established by the state Office of the Attorney General that outlines specific protocol, such as the use of plain-clothes officers.
Since the commission’s decision, some members of the borough administration and the commission are using the controversy as a learning experience.
In a closed meeting last week with the members of the Human Services Commission, representatives of the Princeton Regional School District and borough Administrator Robert Bruschi discussed policy revisions to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Ms. Smith said the committee discussed a recommendation for a school representative to accompany a student if police apprehended an adolescent on school property. Ms. Smith also said the commission would encourage broader communication between community agencies and groups.
Lewis Goldstein, the school district’s assistant superintendent for human resources, public information, and community relations, who did not attend the closed session, said all parties agreed to ensure that the school environment and the community environment are preserved.
He added the district respects both students’ rights and the police department’s responsibility to protect the community.
"We answered all the questions posed to us," Mr. Goldstein said. "And we look forward to working with everybody to resolve not only this issue, but all issues affecting members of our community."
Princeton Borough Police Chief Anthony Federico is on vacation and was unavailable for comment. Lt. Dennis McManimon said any change in procedure or recommendation from a governmental agency would go through the chief.
"I think the chief all along felt the action of the department was proper," Lt. McManimon said.

