DeFusco caught photographing the POLICE CAR used by Mayor's security detail!

(Top) photo credit: Chris Halloran of hMag

City Hall sources report that last Friday, the security guard stationed at the Newark Street ground floor entrance was alarmed to see someone outside photographing the police car used by the mayor's security detail; the weirdo was photographing the black SUV from various angles. Then, the guard realized the paparazzi was no stranger...  

It was Hoboken 1st Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco.  

The City Hall security guard promptly reported the incident to the Mayor's Office. It is unclear whether the guard also reported it to the HPD as "pathologically creepy" or "stalker-like." 

In any event, when the creeping Councilman was done with his photography, he sent the pics to a local anti-Bhalla extremist blog.  Councilman DeFusco's photos were published there with a malicious, unhinged lament about taxpayers footing the bill to protect the mayor... the whole thing was so off-kilter, that HPD Chief Ken Ferrante felt it necessary to issue a rebuttal.   

You ask: how does GA know about the SUV-paparazzi?   On Friday, I received this from a City Hall source:

"Today during business hours City Hall security spotted Councilman DeFusco outside of City Hall taking pictures of the police vehicle for the mayor. " 

Is it me, or does anyone else find that weird, creepy and oh, a wee bit nasty.

HPD SUV photographed by PAPARAZZI -COUNCILMAN Michael DeFusco

In fact, I consider this a non-story. Dopey and mean-spirited in the extreme. Initiated by an IDIOT councilman and inflamed by his water boy. You know, as much as GA can't stand the Orange Caligula, I would never question his need for taxpayer-funded security ( I would question the need to spend 1/3 of his presidency on vacation.)   I wasn't even going to write about it ... then I got the tip from City Hall.  Too funny!    

So, I only thought it was fair-- given the one-sided nature of the fabulist's drivel -- to give HDP Chief Ken Ferrante equal time.  I sent him some questions, and he answered them today in this statement.

HPD CHIEF KEN FERRANTE STATEMENT

The MAN

"This vehicle was approved by City Council early in 2018 and was budgeted for being part of five vehicles purchased for the police department.

Yes, it is a large, black Ford Expedition SUV, luxury is a nice adjective but instead it’s a vehicle with a police package for our Investigations Bureau, which is used for dignitary protection, moving of individuals in confidential situations, transporting of special victims and families of victims and the Mayor’s Security Detail.

Except for Mayor Zimmer, who never accepted a security detail or vehicle for the government business she had to handle, there were always vehicles dedicated to the prior Mayors, and I am certain you will find vehicles dedicated to almost every, if not every current Mayor in Hudson County. 

This vehicle is not assigned to the Mayor solely, but is used for his security detail. You will find all cities with these details and vehicles utilize the common government vehicle and police choices which are Expeditions, Tahoes, Explorers, with the reason being they are made in bulk for these types of details and you need vehicles with size to move dignitaries, victims, next of kin and security or police personnel. No one from the City will operate this vehicle except for Police Officers. Lieutenant Brian Brereton and Officer Leo Colon are assigned to that detail (only 1 per time, never both) and they will primarily operate the vehicle but it is kept at Police HQ overnight and weekends for use with other dignitaries in town or special victims and cases.

Of course it is tax payer funded as no one individually purchases police vehicles. It was part of the five vehicles the PD purchased this year and I remind those who don’t remember my budget presentation, I lowered the PD budget by 1% from 2017 to 2018 during a time when prices and salaries are not going down. This Expedition and a Ford Explorer (unmarked), both assigned to the Investigations Bureau, are the first two unmarked vehicles purchased by the department in at least a decade.

I hope this gives some clarity to this question. I also recommend looking into the other cities in Hudson County to ascertain the vehicles used for mayors and dignitaries and the size of security details.

As I said at several City Council Meetings, the mayor did not ask for a security detail, I received a phone call from FBI SAC Tim Gallagher the day after the Mayoral Election and he advised me based on their intelligence gather, this mayor needs a security detail. The vehicle is the size and shape it is and is the type used for many governmental and police details due to how it could be tactically used, which explains the floor boards. The tint in the back is for privacy of victims, victims’ families and special dignitaries that we will want to move safely and confidentially."

Kenneth F. Ferrante
Chief of Police

Hoboken Police Department
1 Police Plaza
Hoboken, NJ 07030
FerranteK@HobokenPD.org

Thanks, Chief. But I don't need to look into what other cities are doing. I leave decisions about security and protecting public figures up to the professionals.  

So should an idiot Councilman.