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For one thing, Rich Rivera says, the state trooper involved may have “put himself or others in danger by participating in the stop.”
Rivera (above, right) also questions whether the trooper may have escalated the situation by arguing with a BCPD detective who cursed at him while asking why he had his gun drawn.
Rivera asks several other questions, including whether the trooper’s use of profanity was in keeping with written policies, procedures and standards.
“It’s his tone, its his demeanor, the fact that he’s interfering,” he told Nj.com. “This was an egotistical outburst all the way around.”
He goes on to ask whether the trooper committed yet another violation by not radioing in immediately after the incident.
Rivera, who heads a group known as the Civil Rights Protection Project, made headlines in Bergen County when he challenged the findings in a Garfield police-involved fatal shooting.
He had himself and an associate arrested by going to Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli’s office without an appointment and refusing to leave.
The charges were later dropped.
Rivera also got into a conflict late last year with Palisades Park Police Chief Benjamin Ramos over another police-involved shooting.
State police have not disciplined the trooper in any way. Their internal investigation into the matter is closed, Lt. Stephen Jones told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
Meanwhile, Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan’s chief of staff, Jeanne Baratta, said that the two county officers involved have been disciplined — although she said that state Attorney General guidelines bar her from elaborating.
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VIDEO: NJ State Police dashboard camera shows Bergen County Police confrontation
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Police chief corrects activist’s claim in shooting death of armed robber
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Judge increases lawyer’s fees for OPRA request to Bergen prosecutor
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State court rejects Rivera’s return to West New York PD
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Prosecutor warned activist against trespassing prior to arrests
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Molinelli accuses activist, newspaper of ‘trying to make news, not report it’
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