There were repeated outbursts from frustrated residents who demanded a reason why the leader of Lakewood’s police force was ousted from office. There were calls for Al Peters to be reinstated as the township’s public safety director, a position that he was voted out of two weeks earlier.
And, Township Committeeman Charles Cunliffe — a Peters supporter — called for action.
“Let Al Peters fulfill his contract or go back to a chief of police,” Cunliffe said during Thursday’s Township Committee meeting.
There was no resolution, though, as Township Committee members continue to debate what to do.
About 100 residents crammed into the clubhouse at A Country Place, an age-restricted community, where the controversial firing of Peters exposed feelings that often simmer below the surface in Lakewood. During the contentious meeting, those emotions boiled over.
With no clear answer for Peters’ firing, there was rampant speculation among residents that his ouster was the result of Peters’ unwillingness to grant special treatment to Lakewood’s Orthodox Jewish community.
There were also repeated suggestions that the Vaad, an influential group of Orthodox leaders, are pulling the strings from behind the scene.
Mayor Meir Lichtenstein, pounded his fist on the dais Thursday night, rejecting those suggestions.
Rabbi Moshe Zev Weisberg, a member of the Vaad, stood silently in the standing room audience, watching the scene.
“It’s a fringe group of belly achers,” Weisberg said of the angry crowd.
Away from the boisterous meeting hall, a silent majority wants change in the police department, he argued.
“There’s a total lack of confidence that is felt by tens of thousands of people,” Weisberg said.
Two weeks ago, Peters, a retired State Police major, was bought out of his $119,000 annual contract though seven months remained. During the meeting Thursday, one resident after another spoke in defense of Peters. Many of the speeches were met with standing ovations.
Police officers from throughout the state also were in attendence at Thursday’s meeting, speaking in support of hiring a chief of police in Lakewood.
The Township Committee is considering three options: a police chief, a police director or public safety director. Lakewood has gone through three public safety directors in four years.
“It’s the biggest mistake I’ve witnessed,” said Committeeman Raymond Coles, a Peters supporter.
Peters made an appearance and addressed the Township Committee, recounting a list of accomplishments during his 16-month tenure as public safety director.
“I come here tonight not to create controversy, but to lay it to rest,” Peters said. “I ask you to join me in restoring the public faith and to explain clearly my departure.”
Lichtenstein responded by praising Peters for his service.
Lichtenstein’s response perplexed audience members, who shouted out for a clear answer for Peters’ dismissal.
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7 Responses
This whole Maaseh is a shreck in de velt. That Yidden are involved with such Shtusim. We are in Galus and we have to be Mekabel Yesurim Beahava.
As those of us who were in attendance know, this meeting was an awesome turnout in support of all that Mr. Peters has done for Lakewood. The proof was in the shear numbers alone that showed up – standing room only! I still feel that our Mayor, who is an elected official, did not clearly give any of us a direct answer as to “why” Mr. Peters was suddenly let go. Instead, he became very angry, while pounding his fist on the table, because so many folks in the room were demanding a straight answer. He even stated that he would “not be running again next year as Mayor.”
He claimed his decision was not based on any pressure from the VAAD – while in another article Mr. Weisberg called those in attendance “bellyachers” – If Mr. Weisberg had truly paid attention to the long line of all the speakers, including myself, he would have known that we were not all “bellyachers” – I, for one, spoke of nothing but praise for our township Inspectors, and for our entire Lakewood Police force, including Mr. Peters. How these hard working men and women have made a difference in my life here in Lakewood. How they have proven to me that I TOO am entitled to a quality life here in Lakewood – not just those who are segregated among those who are of like mind, faith, and income. I don’t have such a luxury.
Everyone is well aware of how the vote went last night of the ordinance which Mr. Cunliff had introduced and asked for a vote from the township council. We all knew how the outcome would be because Mr. Singer did not show up. Menashe Miller had already voted Mr. Peters out, as well as, the Mayor. Mr. Coles and Mr. Cunliff voted the opposite direction. Leaving it a deadlock without Mr. Singer present.
Listen folks, as residents of Lakewood, we have voted these individuals into office – so we as individuals have a right to know the reasons behind their actions, if it so impacts the residents of Lakewood. And the removal of Mr. Peters, clearly proven last night, has had an enormous impact on the residents of Lakewood. Anyone in these positions should also realize that sometimes they can be wrong about actions they have taken – we can all be wrong at times, can’t we? But what we do to correct those wrongs makes us the people we ultimately become. The residents and governing police members made it quite clear that we all felt, en masse, that the Mayor made a mistake in letting Mr. Peters go – with the taxpayers having to continue to honor his Contract for $119,000. for Mr. Peters to sit at home, is wasteful. Our Mayor could easily fix this and simply REinstate Mr. Peters to, at least, finish out his Contract and then pick a Chief of Police who will have the protections we all desire in our line of work.
If the Vaad did not force this, then why would Mr. Mayor object to disclosing the reason Peters is being dismissed?
It goes without saying, that politics should be left to politicians. I love to see “unzere” in office in a heimishe community (Mayor), but the fallout of placing someone who can’t stand on their own 2 feet can have disasterous effects, as seen here. I am not endorsing Peters any more than that “someone” has to head the Dept. and you don’t push someone out of office in a political environment unless you are ready with your “press release” and it better be professional and unshakeable. This can chas v’sholom backfire for the heimishe olam.
The tzibur does need to be informed and at least a meeting of ALL local rabboim and shul gabboim should be arranged to inform the tzibur what to expect.
i don’t know where you’ve been living but very few Jews feel treated fairly by the police. i think the same is true for other minorities. is it any surprise then that he must go when noone trusts the police!
To Humble Angel (and anyone else interested):
I am not privy to the goings-on of the Township committee, nor do my opinions necessarily reflect the mindset or reasoning of the committee. However, although I appreciate that you approve of Mr. Peters’ performance, you may be interested to know that there is widespread mistrust, lack of confidence, and even fear of the police department leadership’s policies. Let me first say that no one disputes what you say about the hard work and often life-risking activities our police officers perform on a daily basis. I appreciate this and join you in thanking them for this.
This is not about giving “preference” to the Orthodox population, or “those who are segregated among those who are of like mind, faith, and income” as you describe us. (which incidentally, I take offense to, and also incidentally, contrary to your words and that of the media, there is widespread lack of sufficient funds –even poverty at times– among Orthodox jews; people strugggling to make ends meet. Don’t let the big houses of some people lead you to believe that we are all “of like income.”)
Instead, this mistrust is based on past performance only. For example, when a group of concerned citizens formed the Shomrim patrol, an unarmed community watch patrol (not a vigilante squad as was portrayed by some) that would alert police to suspicious activities and crimes in progress — something that is successfully done in many communities such as Baltimore –the police leadership was highly resistant. I understand their initial resistance to such a group, for fear of a vigilante squad. But do you know that dozens of documented (ie time, place, police response time) crimes were stopped in just a short time of its formation? Or that all of these were done without weapons, without breaking any laws, and without interfering with police investigation? But did this change the opinion or appreciation of police leadership? No.
Do you know that dozens of men had to stand helplessly and WATCH while a woman was struggling with her would-be attacker, (Thank G-D for everyone’s sake that she was good and fit and was able to fight him off) while the police took between twenty and 30 minutes to arrive, because had the onlookers physically intervened, they were warned, they would be guilty of interfering and could be arrested? (By the way, some who called police on that occasion (it was at night) were told that no units were available to respond!)
Or about the man who was attacked by a group of young men, and when he fought them off and then followed them so he could report where they lived was reattacked with stones, only to fight them off again and hold one. But when he himself called police and identified his assailants, the police accused the VICTIM, asking him why HE attacked the men, and the officer refused to report the crime?
I ask you, when faced with a situation where one person is clearly a rough-and-tough street-smart person, and the other is a non rough-and-tough, button-down-shirt type, and the latter calls to report that he was attacked, does it make sense to accuse him of attacking the other and simply dismiss the call without further investigation? Isn’t it worth at least reporting and investigating?
This is not an isolated incident, by the way. On other occasions as well, people who have called the police to report a crime later found themselves in trouble instead of the perpetrator, sometimes based solely on the perpetrator’s accusation that HE was attacked and was only defending himself.
On another occasion, a man attacked and robbed a woman in the Clifton Ave area. He was identified by description and pointed out to police, who did not take this identification seriously.
Would you feel protected knowing that if G-D forbid a crime should occur to you or a loved one that you would think twice about calling the police?
Now, I am not suggesting that this particularly is the reason for Peters’ dismissal. And, it may not be fair to pin all of such incidents on Al Peters. But if the leadership is unresponsive to community-oriented issues, (other issues of unresponsiveness to concerns also exist) and residents do not feel safe to call police and have them respond in a timely and fair fashion, the police leadership must bear responsibility.
You are right that EVERYONE is entitled to quality of life. We don’t ask for preferential treatment. A legitimate offender ought to be penalized. We ask for fairness and to be able to trust the leadership of those who are sworn to protect.
metzapeh leyeshua;
Point well taken friend. Forgive me for my short-comings in thinking all are of same income. It should have been better stated; I wish I could be surrounded by folks who hold the same ideas as I have. Instead of being surrounded by some who care nothing for you or yours. Care nothing about creating horrific trash to look at daily; or blasting music to have to deal with all weekend and during all holidays. Watching as your neighbors, who have spent the entire day drinking, barely make it into their vehicles and then drive off! Risking innocent lives. Watching for years as drug deals are done right in your front yard, but unable to get anyone to take your observations seriously – and then finding out they are members of certain gangs here in Lakewood. What do you do? NOTHING. Why? Because you risk your very life by doing so! Its insane!
Listen, my husband was jumped by a number of ILLEGAL aliens some years ago – he was alone against five others. My children had to witness this – I tried to help by pulling them off of my husband. They had pool sticks and knives. My rotator cups, in my shoulders, were completely pulled out! And I lost a few finger nails that had been ripped out as well. You can’t imagine how much pain I had to endure for over a year to properly heal. When the police were called, NO ONE was arrested!! Do you know how that made me feel? These men were here illegally, and attacked my husband for G-d forbide, asking to lower their music; gets jumped by five other men, and NOTHING. Why? Oh, we were told it was our word against their word – So of course, one man and his wife would just naturally decide to attack FIVE men, right?! I can’t tell you all the blood that was everywhere!
So I know exactly what your talking about. Now, we have a great camera and recorder. We make sure to document every single little thing. And I even joined the Minuteman because I felt so helpless! Another group that they TRY to label as vigilantes, but they are not. They are doing the job our government refuses to do.
I’ve tried, and been somewhat successful, in creating our own neighborhood watch here. Which is really just a small group of us who get together and try to improve our collective situations.
Lets face it, there are simply not enough police on the force here in Lakewood to handle all the calls – there are too many illegals, folks that the police have personal told us can NOT be held accountable!! That they can “kill us and disappear!!!” Can you imagine being told that?! What protection is afforded to any resident of Lakewood with that kind of blantant disregard for our safety?
Lakewood is becoming a place you just want to quickly MOVE out of! I hate living here – hate it. Hate the way you are made to feel; hate the things you are forced to swallow; hate the way more and more neighborhoods are being taken over by the evil side of human nature.
If I could afford to move, I would move yesterday. But I can’t. And I can’t find housing that is within our means. I can’t move in with 25 other people because I need help paying my rent and utilitites. I try, as hard as it can be at times, to be a law abiding, tax paying citizen.
I don’t care why Mr. Peters was let go; the manner in which it was done was wrong, and costly to us taxpayers who barely get by month to month. Let him fulfill his contract, which we are paying for anyway; and get a Chief to replace him, $119,000 is a lot of money…
I think if we want to instill more trust with our police department members, that we should agree to have many seminars to discuss our concerns with the ones it involves. Come together as a community, instead of creating even more division. Personally, I am certainly not aware of all the differences I may have with my neighbor. I would love to learn more about each of them. How they live their life. Their traditions, and their beliefs and how it effects their daily lives. I can’t do that if I have no idea about them.
We should have township gatherings for those who are interested in coming together as a community. Let those who wish to create division, stay home. But I can’t do it alone folks – its takes all of us to try and work together and try to make it better for each of us here. We should all feel safe – that goes without say. And if some don’t feel safe, or feel smited, that is a sign that we need to change something. Pull together for the good of all.
If we don’t understand, there will be many misunderstandings, no?
Humble Angel, after reading your post, I am unsure why you want to keep Mr. Peters on! It doesnt seem that he has helped your lot that much that you should stand up to protect him. As far as the large sum of money it will cost to buy him out; if they are able to bring someone new in and start revamping the system, I think even you will agree that was money well spent. As one committee member said that we have to realize that Lakewood has grown tremendously and we have to start thinking like a small city. As soon as you start explaining everything and try making people happy you will never get anything done.