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Subscribe to RSSTwo state troopers have been suspended over allegations they provided an “unauthorized escort” to a group of sports cars -- including one driven by football star Brandon Jacobs -- driving at high speeds in New Jersey.
The convoy of cars, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches and others, traveled at speeds in excess of 100 mph down the Garden State Parkway to Atlantic City last month, according to The Star-Ledger newspaper. They also traveled on the New Jersey Turnpike and Atlantic City Expressway.
The paper said witnesses had made complaints to police about the caravan -- which one witness dubbed "Death Race 2012" -- saying they saw patrol cars with emergency lights flashing at the front and rear of the sports cars.
The Star-Ledger also obtained amateur video footage of a caravan of luxury cars allegedly being escorted by state police at high speed on the Garden State Parkway in 2010. It is not known which officers were involved in this convoy.
Watch video of a 2010 convoy obtained by The Star-Ledger (video contains offensive language):
A statement released late Monday by the attorney general’s office said Sgt. First Class Nadir Nassry, 47, a trooper for 25 years, and Trooper Joseph Ventrella, 28, who has six years’ service, had been suspended without pay in relation to the incident last month.
An unnamed station commander was also transferred “until any potential involvement on his part has been determined,” the statement said.
“We will not tolerate any conduct by a member of the State Police that puts the public in jeopardy, as this unauthorized caravan had the potential to do,” Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said, according to the statement. “We are thoroughly investigating this incident, and those responsible will face serious discipline."
Lt. Stephen Jones, a spokesman for the state police, said investigators would be looking to see if there were any incidents in addition to the one last month and the one in 2010.
“You better believe they are looking hard to see if there are any more; they are certainly checking that,” he told msnbc.com.
Charles Sciarra, an attorney representing Nassry, said in an email that state police officials had canceled a scheduled interview with his client and "simply suspended him without pay."
"This change of course was taken only after tabloid-like headlines appeared on the cover of Star Ledger over the last two days. The headlines scream 'Death Race 2012' when in fact these charitable organizations routinely ask and receive escorts from the State Police to and from the various charitable functions they attend with their exotic vehicles," Sciarra said. "This practice has been in effect for years."
PFT: 'We are thoroughly investigating this incident'
He added that "allegations of recklessness and speeds in the triple digits will not bear out" regarding the escort in question.
"We hope that the powers that be will take a breath, exhale and engage in a fair investigative process with which we will continue to cooperate. Either way, we will not permit Sgt. Nassry to be sacrificed to satisfy a public-relations agenda," Sciarra said.
Jacobs unaware
Jacobs’ agent, Justin Schulman, confirmed that his client, who plays for the San Francisco 49ers, went to Atlantic City on the day in question, March 30.
But, he said, "Brandon wasn't aware the escort was authorized or unauthorized."
The Star-Ledger reported that Michael Breen, a founding member of an elite New York City group of sports car enthusiasts called Driving Force Club, wrote on Facebook about a “very fun” run with Jacobs. He appeared in a photo with Jacobs, who was wearing a blue vest with a New Jersey State Police emblem, The Star-Ledger found.
The paper quoted Gov. Chris Christie as saying he “just shook my head” when he heard about the allegations.
"What are you going to do? It’s a completely ridiculous story. Shouldn’t have happened. Dumb thing to do, but let me assure you it’s not the last dumb thing we’ll see happen," Christie told a crowd at a bill-signing event in Newark.
"People are human beings," he added. "They make mistakes. Those people who made this mistake should be held accountable, and I’m sure they will. And I’m glad nobody got hurt."
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If you watch the video you also see a patrol car has someone pulled over, probably for speeding violation, or defect. That makes this event even more disturbing, in that it certainly does seem to matter more who you are, and how high of an appearance of status in the kingdom of America one has attained. I'll bet they do this for others also. If I found out that was true I would be even more pi$$ed. These are tax dollars, that not just these so called aristocracies pay but we all do, and why would they get special treatment? If I call the police and request a high speed escort for my GMC Sierra with a plow do you suppose I would qualify? This should all be stopped immediately.
I smell a cover-up in the making. The Attorney General said "we will not tolerate conduct which puts the public in danger".
Hmmm, what if the parkway was vacant of other cars? Would it then be acceptable to BREAK THE LAW? He should choose his words more carefully to keep from giving away his true concerns.
I smell a cover-up in the making. The Attorney General said "we will not tolerate conduct which puts the public in danger".
Hmmm, what if the parkway was vacant of other cars? Would it then be acceptable to BREAK THE LAW? He should choose his words more carefully to keep from giving away his true concerns.
Good thing there weren't any accidents. It's idiots like these who set up danger for the general public. Rent a track for your stupid thrills and don't put my life in danger. I'm surprised there weren't any road rage incidents.
Several of the jokers in those cars hang out in Red Bank N.J. I've witnessed their arrogant behavior several times. When they visit Red Bank they think they own the whole town. Most of them are filthy rich Syrian Jews that live in Deal New Jersey. They are a very elitist group of car owners that think they are privileged because they have more money that god. Just goes to show you that the State Police of New Jersey can be bought at the right amount.
P.S to all who read this I'm not bashing Jew's . These are not regular Jew's in any way or form.
Maybe next time I see a police car with its "lights on" I just might not move thinking it is a joke?
NJ State Police a once proud and distinguished organization has been infiltrated by losers.
Standards have been lowered to the point that any dumba55 musclehead wannabe can join.
THESE TROOPERS OUGHT TO BE ENFORCING THE LAWS NOT BREAKING THEM.
Crisis, The problem is that you have to many that are just in it for a pay check. You need a four year degree to get into the State Police. The problem is that you have people going into that job that majored in political science and other majors that in no way apply to law enforcement. Basically you have a good majority that really don't have their heart into being a State Trooper. Period.
Uh, not sure what you mean by 4 year degree, but hopefully you mean high school diploma, cause that's all you need. Aside from that you have to take their entry exams and qualify. No college required.
No you are wrong. You need a four year college degree. Look it up. And your major doesn't matter. This requirement went into effect in the late 1980's.
Does that make sense to you???? That every state trooper has at least a BA??? Really dude? I live here and know State Troopers!! You can go right from the military into the State Troopers.
True but you need an average of 30 credits only if your military. Trust me google it. Back in the 60's and 70's all you would need is a high-school diploma.
ok fine, and yes I've been around for a while. But the 30 credits you can even earn while in. Point is most of the troopers do not have a BA. That's not saying that none of them do. But most do not.
In a nut shell you have a bad job market that is going to have allot of people going into this job that should be by rights reserved for people that truly want to be in law enforcement.
I can think of easier things to use as a backup or fallback than becoming a state trooper.
During Marine boot camp we started with 80 recruits. Out of those 80 I can't say exactly how many, but lots were there because they were given a choice by a judge, boot camp or jail. The graduation class had 30. those 50 flunked out, and most were those that weren't there because they wanted to be. Their heart just wasn't in it.
Not that I have taken a trooper test, but I would imagine that during the qual process, those who's heart is not in it would be weeded out.
If anyone is interested you can wittiness first hand that mega arrogance of this car club first hand. They hang out right in front of a store called Co- Co Pari in Red bank New Jersey on Thurs, Fri, Sat. It's quite the show. P.S one night I'm going to borrow my friends 1970 AMC pacer that burns oil like a B.P fire and park right next to the small pecker club. LOL. I'll let you all know how it goes. You Tube hear i come.
lol, I'll take my dads old beat up Grand Torino. I saw a Ferrari last week drive by my area, and this week saw 2 Lambos. Whats going on here?
lolololol.
On parting words i would like to state that there are allot of good N.J Troopers. This is just a tiny group of bad apples in the bunch. I bet this group is regretting the decision they made on that day. Bunch of dummies.
I agree, and I will take a State Trooper over a local cop any day. I know plenty of good troopers. NONE are the super arrogant type like the local cops. In this case, I don't know what that was about. But it could be that more than just these 2 knew what was happening? These rich people donating to the troopers makes a lot of supervisors look the other way. Not saying that's the case, just theorising.
just wait till the week of JUNE 22ND-24TH when the "POLICE &SECURITY EXPO " is in atlantic city , the garden state pky ,ACE and NJTP will be teaming with speedy cops and "motorcades" of cops from all over the area going to the tradeshow,see this going on every year,but then its mostly cops who know how to drive high speed ,not fist pumping guidos in lambos
the two morons in this video should be charged also! they drove just as reckless as the rest of the retardo squad!!
great for charities but what charity in their right mind would allow "them" one go over 100mph two - put others at risk.and why should we foot that bill.those on the road when this happened are just lucky one of these idiots didnt lose control and wipe out two lanes of cars. one of the above comments those two "officers"and their boss should be fired is absolutely correct.but nothing will happen .they will get desk duty and a pension etc.Like the whole state of nj is corrupt and it depends on how much money you have to grease the palms of the politicians .
You can rest assured that the fat tub of blubber who imitates being governor of the Garden State will try his chubby best to sweep this under the rug. After all, these are the same state troopers who fly his fat ass to his son's baseball games in the Police helicopter on the taxpayer's dime and then insulted reporters who asked him legitimate questions about the ride. Different governor, same corruption.
A-holes driving too fast, endangering the public. All should be arrested and prosecuted. Excusing them by claiming danger from a texting driver is ignorant. Just who do you speeders think you are? Do you think you are more important than the driver's following the speed limit? I'd say you are immature and 100% ignorant. If you are late-tough luck. Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.
It goes without saying that the criminal cops should also be arrested.
"I CAN'T DRIVE 55 " they did seem to drive better then the rest of the pack though,at least they know how to use the left lane correctly !!!
Where were they going in such a hurry ? a hooker's convention ? yeah...that's about right. Spread the joy !
10-4 Good buddy we got us a Convoy
Vvvrrrooooommmm Sssccrreeeeeetch.
New Jersey has the best law enforcement that money can buy!
The police will escort anyone at a high rate of speed if there is a just and reasonable purpose in doing so.
That's the Gardenstate Parkway for you. I haven't been on it since the early 70's, but even during the 55 crackdown of that decade, it was easy to merge into the truck lanes and boogie on at 80 mph.
I still don't condone the rich set getting a high speed police escort on crowded public highways. Money doesn't ensure safe driving habits, infact, it often promotes just the opposite.
Those kids in that video had the time of their life. I'm glad they realized their little sports car didn't have near the braking capacity of those high dollar autos. It would have been sad if they had rearended the one that hit it's brakes in front of them.
If I failed in the very basics of my job description, would I still have a job? Would I get paid? No chance. The injustice still exist Jersy
How thin a line is there between a "mistake" and gross negligence? In the end it'll get swept under the rug, just as everything else cops do.
"This practice has been in place for years for charitable causes"
Perhaps, but NOT at 100+ MPH on a freeway.
Did you notice in the video some poor citizen is pulled over on the side of the road probably getting a speeding ticket?
All the while the 100 mph club tools by.
Make you mad or what!
Hope the guy in the pulled over cars raises hell over getting a ticket while the other cops give a special consideration to the fat cats.
Does anybody know WHO WON?
The main problem with this speed run is that they chose the wrong time, should have been early in the morning on a sunday no traffic and certanly no idiot with a video camera also there has got to be a wider smoother expressway they could have chosen. The buffons with the video camera should have been pulled over issued citations for (1)speeding(2)reckless driving(3)changing lanes w/o signal(4)no seat belt And what the @!$%# does The President have to do with this penny anny bull@!$%#.
I don't see what the big deal is. I'm much more afraid of someone in a beater, a teenager or a disctracted driver doing the speed limit than an attentive one focused on driving at any speed.
I remember a few years ago the Illinois State Police shut down the entire Interstate for a funeral procession. I can see an escort for line of duty. But this guy died of natural causes. To shut down an entire Interstate he must to have been an important M.F'er.
OH geez give it a rest already.