Edison reforms must
be fair but unflinching
EDITORIAL, Home News
Tribune Online May 30, 2006
The Edison police force was unhappily
in the news again last week, this time after an off-duty patrolman was charged
with aggravated assault in connection with an incident involving an emergency
medical technician who volunteered in the township. It was the latest in a
string of embarrassing episodes involving township police, and the second since
Mayor Jun Choi took office in January vowing to clean up the force, which has
been a black eye for the township for years, and maybe decades.
To his credit, Choi dealt forcefully with the incident, suspending the officer,
Alan Farkas, without pay as soon as the facts were known. An internal
investigation is ongoing. Choi also has vowed to press forward with
reforms. In December, before he took office, Choi asked the state
Department of Community Affairs to undertake a top-to-bottom review of the
department. On Friday he said he expects that report to be completed by
June or July, at which time he will appoint a community board to study the
report and make recommendations for changes. That panel will be composed
primarily of civilians, although Choi says it also will have some
law-enforcement professionals on it.
In the waning days of his administration, former Mayor George Spadoro plucked a
longtime member of the Police Department to become the new chief. Although
it was undoubtedly not who Choi would have chosen, the new mayor has been
remarkably loyal to the chief. On Friday, Choi reiterated that the two are
on the same page when it comes enforcing high standards of accountability and
discipline. He said the chief was entirely in agreement with him on the
unpaid suspension handed out to Farkas.
It will be wonderful if the mayor is able to reform the Police Department
without ruffling feathers or firing folks. But he should not underestimate
the Herculean task before him.
Choi acknowledges that there will need to be structural changes, but he
attributes the problems in the Police Department to a few officers and a long
history of cronyism and a lack of accountability.
Many police departments have reoccurring issues with cronyism and lack of
accountability. Edison's abuses, which easily eclipse any in the
surrounding area, are deeper and systemic and have foiled other, more
politically experienced reformers.
Choi will need to be vigilant and relentless. He is the outsider; and
while that is in many ways a plus, it can quickly become a disadvantage in a
situation in which tradition, sentiment and brotherhood are likely to play a
large role. He needs to endow his community board with sufficient
authority to effect necessary changes, even as he learns to wield the power the
people's mandate has given him.
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