In a front-page story today by the Courier's Brandon Lausch, we learn that all of the serious charges against former Plainfield Police Chief Ed Santiago (six items alleging insubordination and failure to obey instructions) were dismissed outright by hearing officer Edward Kologi (see more here).
That was on August 7th.
The city just coughed up the documents to the Courier late yesterday afternoon after an OPRA request. So much for 'open and transparent' government in Plainfield.
Kologi left stand two items concerning failing to 'enforce traffic' involving the mobile electronic radar speed board that is moved from place to place and an officer's lapsed certification. Says Santiago failed to get the portable sign fixed quickly when there were problems with it.
You may want to run out and check it right now -- if you know where it is. The last time I saw was on Park Avenue, advertising the Bike Rodeo at Library Park as part of the August 'National Night Out' programs.
It wasn't working properly then either, with several characters blocked out by a section of lights that stayed permanently lit instead of flashing.
Who's in charge of it now? Is someone filing charges? Let's hope so. We must have the rule of law and procedures, right?
A huge public outcry attended the moves by Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs through then-Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig to discipline and remove Santiago, and -- eventually -- to abolish the police chief's position. The whole brouhaha was widely perceived in the community as a personal vendetta by Assemblyman Jerry Green against the chief.
The dismissal of the administrative charges still leaves at least one lawsuit pending against the city by former Police Chief Santiago.
Back in January of this year, I predicted that Santiago may yet have his justice served (see here).
He is now one step closer.
- Courier: "6 of 8 charges against former Plainfield police chief dropped"
- Plainfield Today: "January 25, 2008: Green, Santiago and à Becket"
View today's CLIPS here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment