'Baby Hitler' Photo In School Yearbook Sparks Investigation In Paramus

PARAMUS, NJ — School officials in Paramus are investigating how a baby picture of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler turned up in a middle school yearbook, according to a letter from the principal.

"Earlier today, after students had already received their yearbooks, we learned that the baby pictures section of the yearbook contained an image that was later identified as an infant photograph of Adolf Hitler," wrote East Brook Middle School Principal Ryan Aupperlee on Friday.

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Aupperlee said the school immediately collected the yearbooks "so the image would not remain in circulation."

School and law enforcement officials are investigating, the letter says.

Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti confirmed Saturday morning that authorities are looking into the matter.

"The Paramus Police Department was notified of the incident," he said. "A bias incident report was completed and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office was notified."

Mayor Chris DiPiazza released a statement on Friday saying, "I am aware of the unfortunate incident involving the yearbook at East Brook Middle School yesterday and have been in communication with both the superintendent of schools and chief of police.

"Our borough’s strength has always been because we are a town welcoming to all faiths and home to numerous houses of worship. Any examples, like yesterday’s, do not reflect Paramus. God bless."

Principal Aupperlee wrote in his letter (below), "Even if the image was not immediately recognizable to those paging through the book, its inclusion in an official school publication is a severe breach of our values. Adolf Hilter represents hatred, antisemitism, and the horrors of the Holocaust, including the murder of six million Jews."

Aupperlee confirmed Saturday that he sent the letter but declined to comment further.

"Thank you mayor for speaking up so that this incident is not normalized," wrote a former East Brook student, in response to a post from the mayor on social media.

The Anti-Defamation League released a report last year saying anti-Semitic incidents are on the rise in New Jersey.

Patch will update this story if more information is available.