A Tragedy is No Time for Politics

At the conclusion of Monday’s [1/08/2018] City Council Caucus meeting, Acting Police Chief Roman McKeon was the final speaker during the Public Portion [5 minutes Maximum per Speaker].  McKeon’s presentation, made in uniform, and his interaction with the Council lasted 20 minutes. My observations, interpretations and conclusions were made after watching the meeting online on PATV. At no time did McKeon indicate that he was speaking as a member of the public therefore he was speaking as the Chief of Police.

During the Caucus meeting there was no mention of the incident involving a carbon monoxide fatality so I believed that was the topic on which Chief McKeon would inform the public. But that is not what happened. It began with McKeon informing everyone that what he was going to say was not politically motivated. That’s a sure sign that the opposite is about to happen. Chief McKeon stated that the Police personnel and their families wanted to know why the Council members did not show up at the scene and at the hospital to show their support. He stated how disappointed he was by this lack of support and mentioned several times how many hours Mayor Diaz and BA Adam Cruz stayed at the scene and at the hospital but Council members were absent.  Of course, since this was not political.  Chief McKeon then went after the few Perth Amboy residents who attend the meetings but do not support the Police. He commented that they talk about stop signs, parking and the Chief’s version of how safe Perth Amboy is but “when the doo-doo hits the fan” they were nowhere to be seen, not at the hospital and not at the apartment building.

A clearly frustrated Councilman Helmin Caba was the first to respond, stating emphatically that at no time had anyone from the Administration or police contacted him about the incident. He commented that it has been embarrassing that as an elected official he often has to get information from residents rather than the Administration. Joel Pabon stated that he was at work, was never called and had no clue of the tragedy until he saw it on Facebook. Councilman Gonzalez backed their version saying he was not notified and also commented that this was an ongoing pattern. Council President Petrick, in response to McKeon, affirmed that he had been contacted by Adam Cruz but was instructed not to tell anyone.

At Wednesday’s regular meeting the Chief, the Deputy Chief, a Captain, two representatives from the PBA [I believe] and a Special who provides security and six members from the public were present. Was this unusual turnout by the Police a show of support for McKeon’s political attacks on the Council and residents who attend meetings? Was it meant to have a chilling effect on the public and Council to question the Administration? Could this be an attempt by our thin-skinned Diaz Administration to stifle dissent? Dialogue is always useful and welcomed between the police and the public —but the perception of intimidation, especially if it is orchestrated by the Administration, is not acceptable.

I do believe Chief McKeon is a decent man who had a bad day on Monday. The City is not served by a Police Chief carrying water for the Diaz Administration which has an established history of one-way loyalty. The Council members did not deserve his uninformed diatribe on Monday. As for the persistent presence of a small group of residents who attend meetings, I will continue to do so.  I know who was there to question, criticize and expose a previous administration and we know that a great many supported that administration without question. That’s a mistake that should not be repeated.

Alan E Silber