New Jersey State Police’s second-in-command, who was accused of constructing an antisemitic comment at a youngsters’s occasion, will hit the highway by the point Mikie Sherrill turns into governor subsequent month, The Put up has discovered.
Lt. Col. Sean Kilcomons is ready to depart the drive by the beginning of the yr, together with NJSP Superintendent Patrick Callahan, sources and officers stated this week.
Kilcomons confronted a firestorm final yr when an inside grievance accused the high-ranking police official of spewing an offensive remark directed at state Legal professional Common Matt Platkin, who’s Jewish, throughout a “Convey Your Youngster to Work Day” occasion on April 25, 2024.
“I don’t need that Jew’s child within the State Police helicopter,” Kilcomons allegedly stated in reference to Platkin and his son probably wanting inside a division chopper in the course of the occasion, in accordance with a report lodged with the AG’s Public Integrity and Accountability Unit, The Put up reported final fall.
An investigation was launched into the allegations, and an legal professional common spokesperson stated Wednesday there was no replace on the probe.
A supply stated Kilcomons goes to retire as Sherrill, a Democratic former congresswoman, isn’t desirous about preserving him on.
The NJSP didn’t return a request for remark.
When requested whether or not Sherrill had any curiosity in preserving Callahan or Kilcomons on the drive, her transition workforce referred The Put up to an X publish she despatched out Monday calling Callahan’s service “commendable” and wishing him effectively in retirement.
Callahan introduced Monday he was retiring and would “not be renominated by the incoming administration,” in accordance with a press launch issued by term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy.
In a letter despatched to the division earlier than the announcement and obtained by The Put up, Callahan informed troopers serving as head of the company “has been the best honor of my life.”
However the company has been roiled in turmoil, together with black activists calling on Murphy to oust each Callahan and Kilcomons.
Bishop Jethro James, a state police chaplain, slammed Kilcomons as a “racist” and informed The Put up this week his exit “is a very long time coming.”
James stated that whereas the division might face authorized legal responsibility partially over Kilcomons’ alleged actions throughout his tenure, he insisted “at the least he’ll now not have any say within the day-to-day operations of New Jersey State troopers and for that I’m grateful.”
Two probes launched by the legal professional common’s workplace final yr discovered “deeply troubling and systemic issues” within the police drive, together with alleged discrimination and weaponizing inside affairs towards some troopers.
The division can be dealing with a misconduct investigation after troopers issued fewer visitors tickets following a report alleging racial disparities amongst these hit with visitors infractions, in accordance with the New York Occasions, citing courtroom docs and other people aware of the proceedings.
The enforcement slowdown stretched between July 2023 and March 2024, the Occasions reported.
A union representing state police supervisors argued in a courtroom submitting the visitors report warned each trooper that any cease could possibly be a probably unconstitutional act, the Occasions reported.
That worry led union leaders to warn troopers concerning the “perils of motorcar stops,” in accordance with the submitting, although a Callahan spokesperson informed the newspaper he didn’t endorse a wind down in visitors enforcement.
