Hoboken's 'cowboy' cops and Plainfield's 'true blues'

Hoboken SWAT team leader Lt. Angelo Andriani having a hoot in LA.

Who knew New Jersey's response to the Katrina devastation would play out the way it recently has?

Plainfield police were part of the EMAC response team from New Jersey that was sent down to Jenner, LA, and put to work providing security and disaster assistance under the leadership of a proper chain of command.

How different, we are learning, were Plainfield's team from the 'cowboy' behavior of Hoboken cops who were in the same town of Jenner. (See links to online stories at end of post.)

First, we learned of the Hoboken cops' shenanigans with some Hooters babes -- pictures of which caused national embarrassment for the hapless police department, which subsequently disbanded the SWAT team.

Now, we learn that these Hoboken cops were 'freelancing' -- that is, they were not sworn or deputized as part of the EMAC operation and would have exposed Hoboken to liability if they had made any arrests while in Louisiana. And prosecution in Louisiana for 'impersonating' officers, to boot!

And, as if all that were not enough, there is now an emerging dispute as to who paid for them to go.

Plainfield's responders shine next to these guys.

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• Jersey Journal: "Officials say cops were 'freelancing'"
• Hudson County Now: "Who paid for SWAT team trips? Depends who you ask."

-- Dan Damon

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ARCHIVED POSTS OF PLAINFIELD TODAY FROM 11/03/2005 THROUGH 12/31/2006 ARE AT
http://plainfieldtoday.blogspot.com/