Andrew Bobbitt, a perennial aide to Trenton mayors beginning with Douglas H. Palmer, recently ran interference for Mayor Reed Gusciora.
Bobbitt complained about a publication that noted five police directors have served under his boss.
Bobbitt underscored that all five persons were not actually police directors. Here’s clarification although the Bobbitt complaint should be filed under beleaguered semantics (BS).
In a recount, Bobbitt proved correct. Actually, six people have wedged bottoms into the police director’s chair.
First, Gusciora tabbed John Day, a retired state police officer and Trenton native as his nominee for police director. Day, received major support from the city’s Concerned Pastors organization.
Gusciora named Carol Russell acting police director, a ginormous mistake to begin his term. Russell, African American, lacked qualifications necessary for the position.
Lt. Chris Doyle became acting director as Gusciora and city council members searched for a police leader.
Next, came Pedro Medina, a Mercer County sheriff officer and retired Trenton cop with strong ties to the Trenton community.
Then Gusciora settled on Sheilah Coley, an out-of-town experienced law enforcement officer with successes in East Orange and Newark. Coley, a highly successful African American, became the city’s first female police director.
Coley lasted until her detractors forced an exit although Bobbitt offered a variety of scenarios about the departure, including his assertion that the record homicide count did not factor into Gusciora firing his top cop.
Race and gender fueled an immediate push back by some police and residents who believed Gusciora should have hired from within Trenton ranks.
In a brouhaha that started Coley’s slide, opponents complained that she should have instructed officers to engage looters in a downtown liquor store during the George Floyd riots last summer.
Coley decided to allow looters to destroy the aforementioned establishment. Coley said she would not send officers into a situation that jeopardized their lives.
Imagine if Coley had sent officers into that bandbox bar where tight quarters could have produced numerous deadly or dangerous scenarios.
The Mercer County Prosecutors Office investigated the incident but found no wrongdoing on Coley’s part. The probe blared an inevitability — they would run her out of town. Period.
Veteran police officer James Slack filled in as interim police director before Gusciora tabbed police retiree Steve Wilson as acting director.
Bottom line, five different persons have headed this city’s police department. If Gusciora’s staff wants to play semantics then they just engage the game of most politicians.
This police department operates in disarray as each city shooting or murder forces Wilson and Gusciora to change course in both message and mission.
In a city overrun by filth, crime, violence and one moving toward breaking the 40-murder mark set last year, hiring a competent police director and police officers sounds crucial.
Many issues lurk for debate next year as numerous candidates compete for mayor and city council.
Public safety ranks as a key issue in 2022 as Trenton considers aspects of police reform. If the city police department continues a detachment from community service then it’s time to consider the Camden option — disband the police department and let’s rebuild with an intelligent, superior trained, well-conditioned, educated force.
For the record one millionth time, fighting crime requires a multifaceted approach. Blight, abandoned homes, education, unemployment, poverty, parental engagement and a litany of other calculations factor into crime statistics.
Trenton demands a comprehensive approach to fighting crime or this city will never enjoy revitalization.
To the people who lead and champion this city, get smart about crime, hire a pragmatic director or get out.
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@Trentonian.com.
