Prosecutor Appoints Officers To Monitor And Run Wyckoff Police Department

WYCKOFF, N.J. - An officer with the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office has been appointed to monitor the Wyckoff Police Department in the absence of Chief Benjamin C. Fox while Fox is investigated for sending an email condoning racial profiling, said Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal.

Capt. Timothy Condon of the prosecutor's office will temporarily monitor the department. Lt. Charles VanDyk will serve as the acting officer in charge, Grewal and Mayor Kevin Rooney signed a memo and jointly announced the appointments Friday.

"While I am confident that our police department has never engaged in or condoned any sort of profiling, it also is important to reinforce and ensure the public trust," Rooney said in a statement Friday. "I have no doubt that our police officers will continue to operate with the utmost respect for all those whom they have sworn to protect."

Related: Rooney's Entire Statement Regarding Memorandum of Understanding

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, which distributed a copy of the email Tuesday, Fox allegedly told his staff that “profiling, racial or otherwise, has it’s (sic) place in law enforcement when used correctly and applied fairly.”

Related: Wyckoff Police Chief Steps Down Amid Racial Profiling Investigation

Fox was placed on voluntary administrative leave Tuesday night. Acting Attorney General Robert Lougy and Grewal investigate an email Fox allegedly sent in 2014 encouraging racial profiling.

Condon will oversee "all major policy decisions" and "oversee the implementation of daily police operations" which VanDyk will administer, the memo states.

Condon has the authority to train officers on the state's racial profiling policy and see that they do not engage in racial profiling, the memo states.

VanDyke will brief Condon daily on the department's operations and on all policy, personnel, and administrative matters.

The Attorney General's Office and the county prosecutor's office will review the department's policies and procedures. VanDyke will not be allow to change or eliminate any department policy without written approval first.

Grewal has the authority to terminate the conditions outlined in the memo.

Condon has 23 years of law enforcement experience. He is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law. He previously monitored the Hackensack Police Department and supervised several criminal investigation squads within the prosecutor's office.

VanDyk has more than 35 years of law enforcement experience.