Crime & Safety
Newark Cops Covered Up Car Chase, Shut Off Dash Cam: Authorities
A pair of police officers in Newark allegedly shut off their dashboard camera to help cover up a car chase, authorities said.
NEWARK, NJ — NOTE: This article has been updated with a statement from the Newark Department of Public Safety.
A pair of police officers in Newark have been reprimanded after they allegedly got into a car chase and tried to cover it up by shutting off their dashboard camera, authorities said.
On Tuesday, the Newark Department of Public Safety announced that the two police officers have been “remanded to administrative duties.” The officers face additional scrutiny from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, which is reviewing the incident.
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Newark authorities allege that the officers – who each have two years’ tenure – failed to report a motor vehicle chase. The officers also shut off their mandatory vehicle dash camera to conceal their policy violations, damaging the equipment, police said.
Public safety officials originally reported that the officers also shut off their body-worn cameras during the incident. The department issued a correction Wednesday afternoon.
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The alleged violations were discovered as part of an investigation by the Transparency and Risk Analysis Team, a sub-unit of the Newark Police Division’s Office of Professional Standards, authorities stated.
“I have zero-tolerance for this type of questionable behavior,” Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said.
“Every member of the Newark Police Division knows how hard we have worked to build the public’s trust,” Ambrose said. “Policy violations like this erode that trust, and these officers —and any others who think they can bend the rules — will be thoroughly investigated.”
- See related article: Newark Will Disclose Identity Of Cops After 'Serious' Violations
- See related article: Newark's Fight Against Police Abuse Could Empower Other NJ Cities
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