Is politics at the root of ongoing problems in the Edison Police Department? Sal Della Fave, president of the Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 75, seems to think so.
“Politics is the reason for the ‘civil war’ and the lawsuits in the police department,” he wrote in a letter that called for oversight from higher authorities due to a heavy political hand in the force. “Get rid of the politics — the others go away.”
The turmoil in the Edison Police Department reached new heights last week, when Della Fave sent out the letter to the press and the public.
Internal strife between Police Chief Thomas Bryan, Mayor Antonia Ricigliano and supporters on both sides has harmed rank-and-file officers, Della Fave said.
“I remain steadfast in my continued commitment to instill an atmosphere of accountability, professionalism and our efforts to correct the negative organizational culture elements within this agency,” Police Chief Thomas Bryan said in response to the letter. “The dedicated men and women of the Edison Police Department and the residents that we serve deserve nothing less.”
Ricigliano and Bryan have publicly asked for intervention from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office — an appeal that Della Fave said he supports.
“I agree with them both. Edison needs someone who is willing to run this police department and lead us into the future, minus the politics,” Della Fave wrote.
Attorney Vito Gagliardi Jr. of Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, Morristown, confirmed that Bryan sent out a letter to the prosecutor May 30.
“The chief is asking for help to protect the department from political interference,” he said.
Gagliardi, who represented Bryan when he was suspended in 2011 on charges involving the chief’s alleged failure to follow directives from the mayor and the administration, said Bryan’s move is a “rare occurrence.”
“This is the first time I’m aware of a request made by a local police department for this type of interference,” he said, noting that he has represented the N.J. State Association of Chiefs of Police for 17 years.
Ricigliano confirmed that she met with Middlesex County Acting Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey on June 5 to discuss “relevant issues” surrounding the police department.
Della Fave also wrote that political dealings steering promotions and other functions of the department, along with a work environment that sometimes leads to “embarrassment and ridicule,” has left morale at “rock bottom.”
“The Edison Police Department is broken,” he wrote.
The union president said municipal officials should also confront the problems in the department. Della Fave said he backed the adoption of ordinances that would forbid Edison employees from donating cash to municipal campaigns and would mandate testing to be eligible for promotions.
“It shouldn’t matter if the mayor likes me or if the chief hates me,” Della Fave wrote. “What has to matter is how I conduct myself, my work ethic and my job performance.
“None of these mean anything today.”
On June 14, Ricigliano and Bryan seemed to heed Della Fave’s request.
Ricigliano, based on her authority as mayor, issued an executive order stating that “no sworn law enforcement officer employed by the Division of Police or sworn officer of the fire division shall make or cause to be made in their name or the name of any other immediate family member [spouse and dependent children], a contributionin cash or in kind on behalf of any candidate running for political office in the Township of Edison, or to any political party or political action committee that provides support, in cash or in kind, to a political candidate for office within the Township of Edison.”
“This provision shall be considered a rule and regulation of the Edison Division of Police and the Edison Division of Fire,” the executive order further stated.
Ricigliano and Bryan released a joint statement, essentially saying they are working together. The statement said they have agreed that the statements made in the press over the past several weeks have portrayed the township and its police division in a false light, and those communications may be subject to misinterpretation.
“I’ve tried to work cooperatively with the county prosecutor’s office and Chief Bryan in an effort to address the issues within the Division of Police,” Ricigliano said. “I am however, concerned about internal matters and disputes within the Division of Police, and I am committed to working with the acting county prosecutor and the chief of police in trying to remedy those issues.”
Bryan said that in the end, they are all committed to working in the best interest of the Edison residents and the loyal and committed members of the Edison Police Division.
“The mayor and I firmly understand that it will take the joint effort of our offices toget the division back on track,” he said.
Della Fave wrote that both Bryan and Ricigliano, who is Edison’s public safety director, are to blame for the current state of the department.
The police union is not at fault, Della Fave added.
“The fact of the matter is this union has worked with the mayor and her administration, the chief of police and his command staff, and the council to help move our department forward,” Della Fave wrote.
Ricigliano and Bryan said they remain committed to the development of reforms needed to address the internal issues that have existed for decades within the Division of Police. During the tenure of Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan, a complete revision to the hiring practices and promotion process within the Division of Police were drafted with the assistance of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police.
Carey, the mayor and the chief have endorsed those reforms, which include the reliance on external, professional testing agencies. They are asking the Township Council to swiftly adopt these reforms.
“I believe this step, along with the reformation of the hiring and promotion practices in the [Division of Police], are necessary to provide the public with assurance that politics will play no role in the [Division of Police], and the best and most qualified officers will be hired and promoted in the township,” Ricigliano said.