The pinnacle of the state’s largest legislation enforcement union is sounding alarms over the end result of a marijuana legalization legislation he claims is limiting law enforcement officials from “upholding fundamental legislation and order throughout New Jersey.”
In a letter to Senate President Steve Sweeney and Meeting Speaker Craig Coughlin final week and was obtained by the New Jersey Globe, New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Affiliation President Patrick Colligan mentioned that minors have realized that that law enforcement officials can’t detain, search or arrest them with out probably going through civil rights fees.
Based on Colligan, “public pot use by minors…have overwhelmed police departments all through the Jersey shore and elsewhere.”
“It mustn’t take an incident of a lethal DUI by a minor or a drug supplier utilizing am minor as a mule gone unsuitable for the legislature to right this,” mentioned Colligan. “Minors know very effectively {that a} police officer can’t detain, search or arrest them for violations of the legislation with out going through a third Diploma cost for deprivation of human rights.”
Colligan is interesting to the legislature to repair the legislation, saying it has “led to confusion, concern and morale points.”
“Our members have reported to us quite a few examples the place they’ve come throughout minors suspected of breaking this and different legal guidelines the place they felt helpless to cease a minor for worry of shedding their jobs,” Colligan mentioned. “That is unacceptable, and it’ll solely worsen.
He cited the Seaside Haven mobs, which was a pop-up celebration of youngsters that was unfold on social media, voicing concern that police have their fingers tied.
Colligan careworn that his grievance has “nothing to do with the incarceration of juveniles.”
“We stand able to work with you to develop clean-up laws to carry steadiness to this legislation and to cease making cops criminals for merely attempting to guard the general public and our kids,” he mentioned.
