Tag:

Michael Wildes

Five Arrests Made At Dueling Protests Over Israel-Hamas War (w/VIDEO) Five Arrests Made At Dueling Protests Over Israel-Hamas War (w/VIDEO)
Five Arrests Made At Dueling Protests Over Israel-Hamas War (w/Video) UPDATE: Dueling protests involving more than 600 demonstrators divided over the war between Israel and Hamas outside an Englewood City Council meeting led to the arrests of five of them – all of whom are from outside the city, authorities said. Englewood Police Chief Thomas Greeley had backup from several local police departments, as well as the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, at the gathering on Tuesday night, Oct. 24, which ended without any major incidents after he convinced the council to cut its meeting short. Both sides were at odds over a resolution approved by the City Council earl…
Englewood Police Chief Lawrence Suffern Retires Englewood Police Chief Lawrence Suffern Retires
Englewood Police Chief Lawrence Suffern Retires Englewood Police Chief Lawrence Suffern retired on Wednesday.  Suffern, who’d been on vacation and was due to return Wednesday, was Bergen County's only Black police chief. He retired effective Thursday, city officials announced in a release. “Best chief ever to have served our great city,” Mayor Michael Wildes said following the announcement. “Respected in the county and serving since he was 18 years old for the last 33 years.” "What a sad day in Englewood this is!" wrote Rasheed J. Goins. "Thank you for your leadership and serving our community with such grace for all these yea…
Bergen Prosecutor Takes Control Of Troubled Englewood PD's Internal Affairs Unit Bergen Prosecutor Takes Control Of Troubled Englewood PD's Internal Affairs Unit
Bergen Prosecutor Takes Control Of Troubled Englewood PD's Internal Affairs Unit The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office has assumed control of the troubled Englewood Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit from Chief Lawrence Suffern for at least the next six months amid accusations that he singled out officers for punishment by denying them extra-work opportunities. A six-month investigation into the department’s internal affairs operation made the move necessary, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella and Englewood City Manager Sonia Alves-Viveiros said in a joint statement Wednesday. Both signed a memorandum of agreement placing a full-time monitor from Musella’s off…
UPDATE: No Injuries In Gas Explosion, Fire In Englewood UPDATE: No Injuries In Gas Explosion, Fire In Englewood
Update: No Injuries In Gas Explosion, Fire In Englewood VIDEO: An explosion leveled an industrial building Wednesday morning in Englewood. "Thank God there's no fatalities, no injuries," Mayor Michael Wildes said. "Looks like a gas explosion." "The rear of the building was blown out and pretty much collapsed," Fire Chief Erik Enerson said. "No one was in the structure at the time." The explosion occurred in the mostly vacant low-slung building on Bancker Street just after 8:30 a.m.  A subsequent fire quickly went to three and then four alarms as authorities evacuated surrounding properties. "I heard the explosion, witnessed the ball of fire,…
Englewood PBA: Marchers Arrested After Interfering, Mayor Blasted, Independent Review Welcomed Englewood PBA: Marchers Arrested After Interfering, Mayor Blasted, Independent Review Welcomed
Englewood PBA: Marchers Arrested After Interfering, Mayor Blasted, Independent Review Welcomed UPDATE: Englewood’s PBA answered back on Wednesday, saying that leaders of a weekend protest march provoked their arrests by interfering in an incident along the route. Union leaders also countered reports that previous marches leading up to Saturday’s Black Excellence event had been peaceful. They also blasted Mayor Michael Wildes for his role in the incident, saying that he has “consistently chosen to play both sides against the middle” and changes his support “whether or not he can gain from it politically.” Tensions escalated when police responded to a report of a fight along  Saturda…
VIDEO: Police, Marchers Clash In Englewood, Four Arrested VIDEO: Police, Marchers Clash In Englewood, Four Arrested
Video: Police, Marchers Clash In Englewood, Four Arrested Tensions were quickly escalating Saturday when the organizer of a peace march in Englewood and a city police officer went chest-to-chest. Then things got out of hand. The officer was one of several who apparently were trying disperse a march early Saturday evening, repeatedly telling participants and onlookers to back up, after what appeared to be a separate incident that occurred along the route several minutes into the event. That's when he and Ainsworth Minott faced off, video shows (see below). Almost instantly, the officer and others push forward. Some marchers are forced to the grou…