GA was pleased to hear from Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante last night.
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| credit: MSV |
Ferrante explained that a civilian employee at the HPD handles subpoena requests, and both officers' supervisors had been informed.
As for the officers, Detective Mecka took Mason's "victim statement" surrounding the service of the suboena at the City Council, and Officer Cahill had filled out an investigation report when Mason complained about having her photo taken. He would not elaborate. Ferrante told GA that Cahill "will not be needed" for the October 30 trial.
Thank you, Chief Ferrante. GA appreciates the update.
Now for my thoughts...
GA NOTE:
Mason's "victim statement" was taken by newly-appointed detective, Jonathan Mecka.
The Mecka family is steeped in Hoboken politics; his dad, retired HPD Captain Ed Mecka has supported political campaigns for Beth Mason and Tim Occhipinti, Jonathan Mecka's sister Lauren worked on Mason's 2009 mayoral campaign.
Emails produced for Defendants by Lane Bajardi and Kim Cardinal Bajardi in thier "SLAPP disguised as a defamation case" document the Meckas' political support for Councilwoman Mason.
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| Bajardi v Pincus- Def. Pincus' MSJ Exhibit 2- BAJARDI_00024731.htm |
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| Bajardi v Pincus- Def. Pincus' MSJ Exhibit 2- BAJARDI_00024711.htm |
The Masons were Tim Occhipinti's largest campaign contributors in 2010; Occhipinti's victory swung Hoboken City Council to the 'OG' and Mason was voted City Council president.
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| Bajardi v Pincus- Def. Pincus' MSJ Exhibit 2- BAJARDI_0008496.htm |
There is nothing improper about the Mecka family's participation in local politics.
In my OPINION, the problem is in the selection of Detective Mecka to take Councilwoman Mason's "victim statement."
In the manner that any public official should recuse himself/herself from potential conflicts-of-interest in official matters pertaining to a friend or relative, this young detective's family- father and sister, have worked on political campaigns for and/or supported the so-called "victim." Add to that, Mason's charges are obvious, politically-motivated BULLSH*T, and it all smells very, very bad.
In GA's OPINION, Detective Mecka was clearly conflicted out of handling this case.
Wasn't there any other detective in the HPD without a family member who'd worked on a Mason political campaign? Why choose a detective with known political family-ties to the "victim?"
Remember, Mason's claims: she was "alarmed" and "offended" at being served a trial subpoena for Bajardi v Pincus. What nonsense. Does the HPD dignify every political grievance with a "victim statement?" Or is that a privilege reserved for political friends?
Mason's fraud on the court, and any "sympathy" she may have gotten from the HPD will be exposed on October 30.
Pardon my cynicism, but GA has been on the receiving end of an HPD favor done for Mason.
That was all before Chief Ferrante's time; GA calls them "The Bad Old Days."
Chief Ferrante's management has improved the HPD dramatically, and is helping mend broken trust in our community.
Mason's crap complaint dignified by the HPD is to me, an artifact from "The Bad Old Days."
Ferrante is a mensch.
ReplyDeleteI think Lauren is Jonathan's sister (Ed's daughter). But I could be wrong.
Good job by the Chief to clarify! Much appreciated
ReplyDeleteThis whole "trial" is a sham. What was the excuse for postponement yesterday? I have to think Mason is just stringing this along to try and cause financial damage to Mr Brice. I would imagine they will keep postponing as much as they can to add to his legal bills
Some people owe the Chief an apology. His officers were subpoenaed to appear in court and they obeyed the subpoena as is their legal obligation.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate that Chief Ferrante added sunlight on the situation. That in itself is entirely new and welcome. Anyone who remembers the fiasco with Director Ian Sacs being handcuffed and chained in HPD after being attacked by a rogue employee certainly appreciates the difference. Who's daughter was behind that little nasty arrest?
DeleteMason ran on "right-sizing" government which one might have thought could include public safety. Of course, after she lost her attempts at becoming mayor, you never heard a single word out of her mouth about controlling spending and right-sizing anything other than her backing repeated salary cuts to the mayor and the directors.
So Jonathan looks like he's acting in the employ of Beth Mason not the public and is "available" for her complaints and video productions. Must be one of those Hoboken coincidences.
This is getting rather interesting.
"Video productions"? Beth scored a video? With Mecka? It sounds like teamwork.
DeleteWouldn't that "some people" be the Blog itself? The reactions were what they were based on the past and being jacked up by the presumptuous story
DeleteAnon 4:29- "presumptuous"? My position is unchanged.
DeleteIt is an OUTRAGEOUS waste of Hoboken taxpayer dollars to have 2 Hoboken cops attend that bullsh*t, politically-motivated, ginned-up up piece crap-trial. Yeah, that is what I think. Did that "jack u up"?
GA appreciates Chief Ferrante explaining why they were there, a legitimate question raised by a taxpayer.
Got an idea: write your own blog, then you can jack yourself up (or off) and be as presumptuous as you want.
What effing apology? Since when is it protocol for a detective to take a witness statement on such a minor charge? And that doesnt explain their sophomoric conduct in court with the complaining "witless". There is still a lot of fishy smell here. The chief could have still told the JC prosecutor to shove it and that he was not wasting the time of TWO officers on such drivel. Image if this happened in every "harassment" case ever filed in Hoboken. Why is this case sooooooo much more important? Apology my ass.
DeleteThe trolls who shot their wads yesterday about the police department are too chickenshit to come back now and apologize for being wrong. They'd need some moral character and backbone to do that. None in sight.
ReplyDeletePiss off. This is a no apology issue.
DeleteYou just proved my point, nitwit.
DeleteIMO the two officers involved should be the ones giving an apology for their actions. They made themselves and the Department look bad.
DeleteVery impressed with his response. A totally rational explanation.
ReplyDeleteUnlike the not so rational attacks by Beth on free speech
Uhhh,as for the trolls, if anything wasn't he calling to correct GA, not the Trolls?
Its pretty frightening participants here would attempt, hint at outing others especially when it comes to Police. Very Minion-esque
Not to "correct" me. Ferrante called to provide answers to questions I raised re: why a detective and uniformed officer showed up in Court yesterday with Mason. He was extremely cordial and it was a good conversation.
DeleteIt really looks sleazy when the two Hoboken police officers who are were supposed to testify come in with the plaintiff and sit together in the back of the courtroom socializing.
ReplyDeleteWhen you toss ing the ongoing political partnership one of the officers had with the plaintiff it reeks.
If this ever gets in front of a judge all this information should be submitted.
Mecka is a child and thinks he's the shit. He knows jack and is a real pos.
DeleteI've heard that Mecka videotaped Mason's "victim statement." That seems really unusual. I can see videotaping an interview with a suspected perp but videotaping a supposed victim? That's really strange. Maybe even unprecedented by the HPD.
ReplyDeleteIf Detective Mecka takes the stand it will be interesting to hear him explain under oath how it is that he wound up taking Mrs. Mason's complaint and why he made the extraordinary decision to videotape it.
If I was Detective Mecka I would do everything I could to avoid having to testify. Unless he actually witnessed the supposed harassment himself, his testimony can serve no purpose other than to help support a potential contention by Horsey that Mecka was in some way complicit with Mason in manufacturing a false claim.
This would be bad for Mrs. Mason but possibly worse for Detective Mecka. As the Bajardis have learned the hard way, serving Mrs. Mason can be very expensive.
The fact that he engaged in that type of conduct is disturbing. And it makes it very disturbing that he is a PO in Hoboken, armed with a gun and handcuffs and the ability to arrest people. He does not seem to have the maturity or psychological profile to be in that position. Hey GA, whatever happened to that asshole detective that came to your house threatening your arrest in front of your daughter? For anyone who thinks my comments about jerk off Mecka are over the top, remember what happened to GA and think hard about how dick breath Mecka has the ability to do the same thing.
DeleteIt is not protocol to videotape a victims statement on anything less than a third-degree offense. This is unheard of for a minor infraction. The police had an obligation to take Mrs. Mason's complaint report and that's all. Videotape? Preposterous. This videotape was a favor to the Councilwoman and possibly collusion with the HPD. Ed Garcia was running the department as interim chief. If I recall Garcia is close to Beth Mason. Horse's attorney will have fun with this witness.
DeletePretty weird, hpd. Videotaping a council twit complaining she got served a subpoena. Waaa boo hoo the meany horse gave me a subpoena boo hoo. Meeeaaan horse!!! Waaa. THIS is what our cops were doing under Falco? I wanna to see this video!!!
DeleteI so wanted to start using "Hoboken's Finest" when referring to the Hoboken Police Department. Years of inbreeding, favoritism and entitlement has felt the department far from the finest and will take much more time to overcome the problems.
ReplyDeleteChief Ferrante should grow some balls and investigate the entire situation.
ReplyDeleteDon't be so sure he won't. It's not like he's going to announce it to you.
DeleteChief Ferrante has already said P.O. Joe Cahill "will not be needed " on October 30th.
DeleteIMO Chief Ferrante has now, through carefully worded apologies, situated himself as a card-carrying "part of the problem" with justice in Hoboken. Can you say "wasting taxpayer money hand over fist with management ass-covering"?
ReplyDeleteHard to believe you read the comment you are reacting to. There's no apology and no intention of one. Between the lines, there is an inherited situation that the chief will have to work through. Maybe where you work you throw co-workers under the bus publicly to make bloggers happy. It doesn't work that way anyplace else, especially a police department.
DeleteEd Garcia was the HPD interim Chief who would have dispatched Mecka to interview Mason. NOT Ferrante. Ferrante is cleaning up the mess he inherited.
DeleteThere was no "carefully worded apology." That statement doesn't make sense.
This case should have been tossed ages ago and Mason should be given a big fat bill for the cost of dealing with her stupidity. Seriously, this bitch turns to the courts constantly just to be a pain in the end. She hasn't had a legitimate grievance in almost a decade.
ReplyDeleteI will be happy when she decamps for Virginia. I hope she stays there year round. Let her inflict her nastiness on some other community.
It's great that Ferrante clarified why his officers were in court for this superfluous, resource-draining case. Their cozy behavior is another thing, the sub-text of which is what is widely known - that Mason and others appear to be able to summon the HPD for private duty whenever they wish. For example, the team that was sent to GA's home to harass her, the incident with Ian Sacs and the van, and the special council meeting over the hospital sale where Mason was escorted into city hall by uniformed officers, a courtesy not extended to any other councilman that night. I'm sure there are many other incidents that readers can add, but until Ferrante addresses that issue and stops that behavior, his statements about his officers may be factual, but don't come remotely close to the truth.
ReplyDeleteEvery incident you listed occurred on somebody else's watch so what is your basis for saying the Chief hasn't stopped that behavior? The actual facts seem to imply that he has indeed stopped it.
DeleteNow has he done anything to hold the bad apples accountable? I have no idea whether he has or even if he could if he wanted to. But in my opinion fixing problems going forward is always job 1.
There was a lot broken with the Hoboken Police Department and it will take time to fix it.
DeleteInternally, Chief Ferrente has a lot of balls in the air to juggle between civil service, unions and the unwritten rules of protecting fellow cops.
To the public the image of having Jersey cops yucking it up with Elizabeth Abruzese- Mason in the courtroom before a hearing looks like a scene from the Sopranos.
Except in the Sopranos they went Bada Bing instead of Hooters.
Delete